12 - Friday, August 5, 1994 - North Shore News

Watershed logging copter crash investigated

A HELICOPTER transporting loggers
from a site near ihe Capilano water-
shed crashed July 20.

By Bob Mackin

Contributing Writer

Tom Heath, Greater Vancouver Water
District's (GVWD) administrater of water
planning, said that a Hughes 500 helicopter
“dropped like 2 stone” from 10.5 metres (35
ft.) near its landing pacat Clyde's Pi. an old
gravel pit being used as a staging area for
logging operations.

The accident occurred at approximately 8
p.m. when the helicopter’s engines gave out
above the landing site,

There were no serious injuries, but the

STAINMASTER
PLUSH

*4

Installed w/pad

HEAVY NYLON
TRACKLESS

ULTIMATE
PLUSH

yd.
w/pad

LEVEL
LOOP

8 great colors

chepper's pilot and three passengers were
then to Lions Gate Hospital as a precaution.

Heath said he doesn't know the cost of

the damage. Transport Canadas is invesugset-
ing.

“(to was not an ineident thar was consid:
ered a teeat ta the wedtes supply.” Efeath
sail,

The loggers were working for Port
Alberni-based Coulson Sky Crane and the
helicopter was provided by Southern
Mouotain Helicopters i Langey

Heath pointed out dit Sthoesky helt
copters are used for logging: the one
involved in the accident was merely a shut
the.

The Society Promoting Environmental
Conservation (SPEC), however, says dhat's
irrelevant.

we

VINYL

Brand Names

$ As low as

sq.
yd.

The group's vice-president Paul Hundal
appeared ata Suly 29 Greater Vaneouses
Repional District COVR DI direeton. oectirgs
and circulined a deter that calls tor an mime:
diate hill te helicopter logging in GV RD
watersheds.

Hundat said a Gark stociii tore chan
20,000 Hires af fuel is docated near the stig:
Ings area.

“We were very lucky that the crash did
hot create ¢ catastrophic fire ar dast fives, hut
itdrives home die question et why are we
even taking the chance?” Handal said.

“Phease vole ta stag the bypocrisy: by
stepping these logging operitions qow.”

Heath sitid the fuel tank is salely iastatled
Sina fully bermed and aligned contdnment
enclosure there were any spills they
would be contained and dealt wath.

“This has atl been reported to the board
previously.”

The Ministry of Transport was advised of
the helicopler aceident.

Meanwhile, the GVRD's water committee
reseived a report oo future management
options af the Seymour DemonsteaGan
Forest.

The report recommends increased logging
and construction of nore trails toomake it
more accessible to the public.

A palentiaily controversial proposal to
implement water metering is on hold for the
sumimer,

The GVRD's badger cominittee will con-
sider conducting a study on water metering
in the fall. Phe directors voted to defer it
after the howd refused Gs grant $100,000 ta
hegin the study.

GREAT FOR THE
FAMILY ROOM!

HARDWOOD

3/4” solid oak