Bell 206L crash near Snowy Lake, Canada

A privately registered Bell 206L LongRanger (C-GCHQ, manufactured 1978) was conducting a VFR pleasure flight from Pasadena, Newfoundland and Labrador, to a lodge at Snowy Lake with a pilot and passenger. Upon arrival, the pilot attempted to land in a cleared area in front of the lodge. Due to the slope, the pilot elected to hover taxi forward toward a pathway leading to the adjacent lake. The pathway was lined by trees on both sides. As the helicopter taxied into the clearing, the main rotor blades contacted trees to the left and control was lost. The helicopter came to rest on its left side and was substantially damaged. Both occupants were wearing helmets and were uninjured.