TSB Finding of Main Rotor Blade In-flight Failure in Campbell River Crash Not Supported by Evidence

On September 24, 2019, a Bell 206B outfitted with VHA main rotor blades and operated by E&B Helicopters collided with terrain in Campbell River, British Columbia, resulting in the loss of the helicopter and its pilot, the only occupant on board. During the subsequent investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, VHA cooperated to the fullest extent allowed, providing test and certification data while answering all TSB inquiries.  

While an engine failure was determined to have likely initiated the sequence of events leading to the crash, the final TSB report [A19P0142] implies that simultaneous fatigue failure and/or deformation of both main rotor blades caused or were contributing factors to the crash, to the extent that the report is titled “Main Rotor Blade Failure and Collision with Terrain.” This finding is based on limited and subjective evidence of fatigue damage identified in a small area of one of the blades, and is inconsistent with the available evidence, known helicopter flight dynamics, and established material behavior.

VHA is sensitive to the loss felt by E&B employees, family members, and the helicopter community at large, and feels that they deserve a more realistic explanation based on the evidence. VHA has drafted a response that identifies factually false statements in the TSB report, describes significant pieces of evidence that were either missed or ignored, and proposes an alternative sequence of events that fits more closely with all available evidence without relying on the occurrence of multiple highly improbable events.