Pilot Who Died In Crash Was A Skilled Flyer Community Minded Says Friend

A helicopter pilot in Port Alberni who was killed in a crash in North Island on Wednesday was a talented pilot, hard worker and family man who soon volunteered for his community. A longtime friend said Brent Fedirchuk was the pilot who died when the helicopter crashed north of Sayward while carrying cedar blocks. “He was absolutely the best friend one could have,” said Paul Robertson, who owns Port Cedar Products in Port Alberni and has known Fedirchuk for decades. He said Fedirchuk, believed to be in his 40s, was leaving behind a wife and a young son, and that his death was a shock to industry and the community. The Transportation Safety Board, Campbell River RCMP and BC Coroners Service are investigating the crash. Robertson said his friend was working with Parksville-based Kestrel Helicopters moving cedar blocks from a remote intersection near Sayward when the accident happened. “He was one of the best in the business,” Robertson said. Robertson said the circumstances of the crash were unclear, but the news on the ground was that the helicopter had fallen 300 meters and landed upright. Fedirchuk was dead when the first correspondents arrived, he said. “The kids on the ground said they just heard a pop,” Robertson said. The TSB has not determined the cause of the crash. Fedirchuk started working on the green chain by producing cedar at Somass Mill as a 20-year-old, Robertson said. He said he went to Fedirchuk to work with him one day, cutting cedar and throwing wood in a helicopter. “He just looked up and said, ‘This is what I want to do,’” Robertson said. “Brent saved his money, got his pilot’s license and has been with Kestrel ever since,” Robertson said. Fedirchuk also flew helicopters to fight forest fires in 2019 and last year. “I have flown with him many times over the years and he was skilled and always safe,” Robertson said. Fedirchuk soon joined Port Alberni and was named volunteer of the year in 2016 and a member of the board of Funtastic, a team that organized sporting events. “He was just a great guy with a lot of friends,” Robertson said. “She was always there to help. “It was a standup dude, I can tell you that.” [email protected]