RCMP Chopper Crash at Cultus Lake
 

Wow, 3 hours ago there were TCU's in Abbotsford. What a fool of a pilot, assuming the crash happened within a few hours of 3pm. Ceilings were around 2500' so you can only do low level training.

Still RIP, but I mean you gotta know your limits.

"There are many old pilots and there are many bold pilots, but there very few bold and old pilots".

The pilot must have been pretty experienced to be able to be flying choppers for the RCMP. Most likely ex-military. Just a thought.

RIP.

You can have an immense amount of skill,
years upon years of experience,
and excellent judgement...

But when shit goes wrong, you're sometimes at the mercy of Lady Luck.

RIP, DB, and my condolences to those who knew him.



I lost a friend in the C185 crash in Fort St John in early December. He was an admirable man who inspired many and one of the last people I who I thought would die like that. A very skilled pilot.

report is not even out yet, who knows if its mechanical or human error. stop trying to make it sound like u are so smart because I am pretty sure the RCMP is not going to hire some rookie to fly for them.

Rip

fix the title man, it's RCMP Chopper Crash at Cultus Lake.

This was a training exercise?
So the pilot was in training? or just getting some hours in?

Kinda silly they would hold a training session during the conditions they mentioned?
That's pretty sad.

RIP

Two more articles:

Pilot dead after RCMP chopper crashes in Cultus Lake

Pics
RCMP Helicopter crash - BC News - Castanet.net

First off, learn to fucking spell. Secondly, I'm not "trying" to sound smart. I'm making my decisions based on a VERY quick look at what the weather was around 1500, which would constitute "afternoon". Based upon that I have determined that it definitely didn't look like a good time to go flying. Furthermore, it was snowing like a mofo in the valley today and the freezing level was at the surface. Now, flying through "most" snow will not result in icing. But if you go through any cloud when the freezing level is bellow you, you're going to pick up ice. Icing on the wings of a plane can increase drag by 40% and decrease lift by 60% (or the other way around can't recall right now). Helicopters are even more fucked than that in ice.

And no, I'm sure he wasn't a rookie pilot (I hear it's pretty tough to get in with the rcmp for pilots) but everyone makes mistakes and to me this seems like one of those times.

Alas, I could be completely wrong and there could have been a nice pocket of airspace over cultus lake and that it may have just been a mechanical failure.

Furthermore, this is just my opinion. I don't really mind if you don't believe it's just what I think. Obviously condolences go out to the family as it's always a tough thing to go through. The only good that can be taken from this is that he passed on doing what he loved, I can only hope I'll be as lucky.

edit: on another note, I was supposed to go wheelin in the area that he crashed...

Training sessions sounds like it was with E.R.T. (SWAT) and the pilot was returning to base after it was completed. The training was likely for ERT and not the pilot in particular. I've flown a fair amount of time in the JAFO seat in Force choppers on both coasts and they fly in conditions that civillian planes are grounded. Like other aspects of Police work, often you have to run towards the danger that others are fleeing. You also have to train in tough conditions if you are to be able to do so in real emergencies. So very sorry to hear of the tragedy. Unfortunately this is not the first time a Force plane has crashed killing those on board.

Apparently the ERT guys extracted the pilot and transported him; "Cultus Lk helicopter crash pilot being transported Code-3 by #RCMP #ERT w/paramedic to #Chilliwack General Hospital." - ScanBC

NOTAM for the area said the runways at chilliwack airport were closed due to snow until at least 2pm... gives you an idea how bad the conditions were


great quote

i'll do it because it's bothering me too much.

RIP to the pilot and condolences to the pilot's family and friends.

Sorry, something that's bothering me:

Training exercise =/= Pilot training




RIP to the pilot.

ERT Teams train on a regular basis and they execute all kinds of scenarios including the use of aircraft. Based on my experience, it is unlikely that the primary purpose of the exercise was to train the pilot and was more likely to train ERT. There are numerous ERT Teams and only a few pilots.

Update: Helicopter Crash

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2012-01-17 20:46 PST
The RCMP can now confirm that the name of the pilot is David (Dave) Brolin. He was 46 years old and joined the RCMP in June 2006.

I've never seen one go down before, which is why this story was so shocking. You just don't expect to see a chopper with RCMP colors smashed on the ground.

RIP to the pilot :(

We lost a chopper and 2 occupants on Vancouver Island a few years ago. Their pictures are on the wall in Courtenay Detachment.