A helicopter landed safely on Tuesday after a lightning strike apparently ripped off two of its four tail rotor blades, damaged its horizontal stabilizer, and compromised its flight instruments. The Helijet Sikorsky S-76 was on an IFR flight from the Vancouver harbor to Victoria on Vancouver Island in British Columbia with two pilots and 12 passengers aboard. The incident occurred shortly after 9 a.m. local time while the aircraft was mid-route, in a cloud, and at an altitude of 4,200 feet. Two pilots and 12 passengers were aboard.
According to Helijet CEO Daniel Sitnam, the pilots saw a bright flash and heard a loud bang, then noticed their instruments were out. However, they were able to declare an emergency with air traffic control. They then descended below the cloud deck to an altitude of 1,300 feet and maintained visual reference to landing. A weather statement from Environment Canada for the Victoria Island area yesterday called for up to two inches of rain but made no mention of lightning. Canada’s Transportation Safety Board is collecting evidence related to the incident and may launch a formal investigation.
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