Eurocopter AS350 accident near Cultus Lake, Ca, February 17, 2012
On February 17, 2012 at about 1:50 pm local time, a Eurocopter AS350 (helicopter), registered CFMPG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cultus Lake. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 17, 2012 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Cultus Lake, Canada
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS350 B3 · all AS350s on the register
- Registration
- CFMPG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 17, 2012, about 1350 pacific standard time, a Eurocopter AS350 B3, Canadian registration C-FMPG, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Cultus Lake, British Columbia, Canada. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The helicopter was registered to and operated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. According to information provided by the Canadian government, the helicopter took off from a staging area with only the pilot on board. It was hovering about 80 feet above the ground when an abnormal noise was heard and a puff of smoke appeared to come from the engine. The helicopter descended, turned about 180 degrees, and crashed on the ground below. The pilot was fatally injured. There was no fire and the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) activated at impact. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Canada. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of Canada. Further information pertaining to his accident may be obtained from: Transportation Safety Board of Canada 200 Promenade du Portage Place du Centre 4th Floor Gatineau, Quebec K1A 1K8
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.