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TSB Updates Halifax Investigation
The Transportation Safety Board has released photos of the aftermath of the crash of an Air Canada A320 at Halifax’s Stanfield International Airport last March 29.
The images show the level of destruction of the airframe as part of an update on what will be a lengthy investigation.
The TSB has now nailed down the sequence of events that led to the aircraft lying on its belly at the side of the runway it was supposed to have landed on. It reported the sequence this way:
“The aircraft was flying the localizer approach procedure to land on Runway 05 at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport. A localizer approach only provides pilots with lateral guidance to align the aircraft with the runway for landing. During the approach, the engines of the aircraft severed power transmission lines, and then the main landing gear and rear fuselage impacted the snow-covered ground about 225 metres before the runway threshold. The aircraft continued through a localizer antenna, then impacted the ground in a nose down attitude, about 70 metres before the threshold. It then bounced and slid along the runway, coming to rest on the left side of the runway about 570 metres beyond the threshold.”
There were 133 passengers and five crew on board and 25 people were injured. The cabin remained remarkably intact but an antenna did breach the floor toward the rear of the plane but the collision with the localizer didn’t cause any breaches.
The investigation so far has determined the aircraft was operating normally and reported the conditions at the time (winds 350 at 20-26, visibility a half mile in snow and a ceiling of 300 feet) but has not issued any opinions on the cause.
McLeod Fouls Out in Fort Worth
Photo by Red Bull photo pool.
He’s flying some of the best races of his life but Red Bull Air Race pilot’s aggressive competitiveness is hampering his performance.
McLeod was on his way to a course record in the final qualifying round of last weekend’s race at the Texas Motor Speedway when he broke the 10G limit. He was ahead of the eventual race winner Paul Bonhomme when the light went on.
“Pete showed some great speed through the weekend, and really looked like he was going for a track record in the Round of 8 against Paul Bonhomme with a scorching fast first lap time – until his “over G” penalty registered and put an end to his day,” said spokesman Dan Gysbers.
McLeod has one more race to put it all together for his first win of the 2015 season with the race finale in Las Vegas Oct. 17-18.
He placed first at Las Vegas last year.
Progessive Partners With Brant
Kamloops-based Progressive Air is opening a location in Brantford, Ontario in cooperation with Brant Aero.
Under the partnership, Progressive, which builds high performance engines for light aircraft and is also a parts distributor through three companies under its umbrella, will set up a staffed parts depot at Brant’s hangar in Brantford.
The Ontario location will be managed by former Progressive production manager and engine inspector Corey Anderson.
“There are tremendous opportunities around Ontario and we are thrilled to work with such a well-respected company as Brant Aero to serve our expanding customer base. Bud and Pat Field have spent 43 years building an exceptionally strong technical team and like Progressive, they have built their company with an emphasis on customer support,” Todd Collins, CEO of Progressive Air Group of Companies said. “We are all excited to see what we can accomplish when we combine an extraordinary avionics and maintenance company like Brant Aero, with Progressive Air Group’s established position as an international aviation parts distribution company and engine accessories shop.”
Buffalo C-46 Lost in Off-Airport Landing
(CBC submitted photo)
A Buffalo Airways C-46 Commando was heavily damaged in an emergency landing at Deline, NWT last week.
The aircraft was on a flight from Yellowknife to Norman Wells when the pilots reported engine trouble.
They didn’t make the field at Deline and did a wheels-up landing in flat, but bushy area next to a road in Deline. Photos from the scene suggest the aircraft is a write-off but all four crew members were uninjured.
It’s one of a handful of C-46s still in service in the world. Everts Air in Alaska also operates the type, some in passenger configuration. All of Buffalo’s are cargo planes.
The aircraft was developed in the 1940s and at the time it was the largest twin engine aircraft in the world.
It served alongside the DC-3 during the Second World War but its tricky flight characteristics and maintenance demands made it less popular than the Douglas.