Investigators are expected at the site of a helicopter wreck in British Columbia today, as they try to determine what caused the crash that left its pilot dead.

Forty-six-year-old Dave Brolin died Tuesday, when the A-star B3 helicopter he was preparing to pilot back to base after a successful RCMP training exercise crashed into a snow-covered hill near Cultus Lake east of Vancouver, B.C.

Brolin, a civilian who flew for the RCMP and also had pilot credits in several movies including 'Agent Cody Banks' and 'Snakes on a Plane,' was the only person aboard when the chopper went down.

Emergency personnel were quick to arrive at the site of the crash, but RCMP Chief Superintendent Wayne Rideout told reporters they were unable to rescue him.

"Emergency response team members who were present as part of the training exercise provided immediate and extensive efforts to save the pilot's life," Rideout told reporters gathered at the RCMP headquarters in Vancouver Tuesday.

Describing Brolin as an "experienced" pilot who had worked with the Mounties for "several years," Rideout said he will be missed.

"This pilot is a member of the RCMP that got up this morning and went to work to do his job," Rideout said. "He's died on duty."

A pair of Transportation Safety Board investigators are headed to the crash site Wednesday, where they're expected to be joined by officials from the provincial coroner's office.

When asked about possible causes of the crash, Rideout told reporters the RCMP maintains its fleet of six helicopters to the "highest degree."

"The equipment is top-notch, so I can tell you it is my belief it is extremely rare to have something like this take place," he said.