2009P1222
Date: 2009/08/14
Location: Fraser River, BC
Fatalities: 1
Injuries:
CADORS: 2009P1222
TSB: A09P0249
TSB O/C: 3
Working: Yes
News: http://www.canada.com/news/RCMP+identify+helicopter+pilot+missing+crash/1897736/story.html
RCMP identify helicopter pilot missing in B.C. crash
Vancouver Province
August 15, 2009
LILLOOET, B.C. — Searchers combed the banks of the Thompson-Fraser River Saturday for the pilot of a helicopter that crashed into the south central B.C. waterway on Friday.
The Bell 212 chopper was fighting a wildfire outside Lillooet when it crashed late in the afternoon.
The wreckage, submerged in the river between Lytton and Lillooet, was spotted by rescue crews Friday from the air, but police were forced to call off their search as dusk fell.
The pilot was identified as 53-year-old Robert Christopher Woodhead of Stoney Creek, Ont. He was the helicopter’s sole occupant.
At the time of the crash, he was filling the aircraft’s water bucket as part of the effort to combat a nearly 1,300-hectare blaze about 20 kilometres south of Lillooet.
Witnesses reported he surfaced in the water after the crash, so efforts were focused Saturday on a water and riverbank search.
Two boats from Hope Search and Rescue were being deployed along with an RCMP helicopter, said RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk.
“There was a second helicopter operating in the area who witnessed the crash and immediately attempted to assist Mr. Woodhead when he was seen surfacing,” said Moskaluk. “A valiant attempt was made by the second pilot and machine by lowering his line and bucket into the river near Mr. Woodhead, however it was not successful and the pilot lost visual sight of Mr. Woodhead.”
This was the fourth Canadian helicopter accident in a month.
Lillooet is about 250 kilometres northeast of Vancouver.
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
