Transportation Safety Board says fatal crash linked to undetected helicopter defect

RICHMOND, B.C. — The Transportation Safety Board says an undetected defect deep within the engine of a helicopter caused a fatal crash on northern Vancouver Island last year.

The board’s investigation report examined the April 6, 2022 crash of a Hughes 369D that went down near the Port McNeill airport, killing the lone pilot.

The report says shrinkage voids developed during manufacturing of the helicopter engine’s sixth-stage compressor wheel, but that problem can’t be detected with existing inspection methods.

The compressor wheel eventually fractured in two places, which the board says caused “catastrophic” engine failure.