Pilot dead, passenger injured in crash

Chopper went down Sunday near Campbell River

The wreckage of a helicopter that crashed near Campbell River on Sunday, killing the woman piloting the craft, will be examined by Transportation Safety Board experts to determine if any mechanical failure caused the crash.

Campbell River RCMP said they were notified about the downed helicopter about 5 p.m. Sunday.

The craft went down in a forested area, but Mounties, B.C. Ambulance paramedics, Campbell River firefighters and a search-and-rescue team were able to reach the site on foot.

They found the woman dead, but a male passenger was alive and was rescued with the help of a helicopter from 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron stationed at Comox.

The injured man was transferred to Victoria General Hospital, the principal trauma site on Vancouver Island.

Jason Kobi, TSB acting regional manager, said the passenger and the deceased woman, who was in her 40s, were both licensed pilots, but the woman was in charge of the craft when it went down.

Kobi said the aircraft was registered to a commercial operation but was no longer being used commercially and had most recently been leased to a private individual.

He said the wreckage will be shipped to Burnaby for examination.

The names of the pilot and injured passenger have not been released.