Ex US Army OH-58A-BF 71-20900. With 444 Squadron at CFB Lahr, Germany. Destroyed when it struck wires during low flight near Avasinis, north east Italy on 16 May 1976. the flight had originally departed Venzone, Italy on a reconnaissance mission in an earthquake affected area to familiarize the crew with the area while looking for other damage. The crew observed some problems with the dam in the area just north of Avasinis and proceeded up the valley towards the dam for further inspection. Exiting the valley, the pilot flew into an undetected cable. The helo was flying at approximately 200 ft above the ground at 60 knots. The cable slid up the windshield, cut through the upper cowling and then contacted the mast and control rods. The cable snapped and became entangled in the mast. The pilot initiated a descent but approximately 50 ft above ground, the control rods severed and the main rotor decelerated. The pilot lost control as a result and the helo yawed left, hit the ground nose low and rolled inverted. Captain R.G. “Buck” McBride was killed in the crash and the rest of the crew was injured. This accident contributed directly to further CF interest in the Bristol Canada Wire Strike Protection System (WSPS).
SOS: 23 December 1976 - Category “A” write-off.

1972-04-20 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1976-12-23 Struck off Strength Struck off after crash, see comments. 2019-08-20