Representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday rejected repeated requests from local officials to delay Monday’s launch of a new flight path into Teterboro Airport, and instead offered assurances that the change will have a limited impact. The officials, from towns including Ho-Ho-Kus, Mahwah, Paramus, Ramsey, Ridgewood, and Rochelle Park, attended a meeting convened by the FAA at the airport to explain the changes. In addition to requesting the delay, they protested that they were not given sufficient warning — or input — into the new flight path, which will begin a six-month test run on Monday. Federal officials say moving the flight path — sending jet traffic instead to the west along a corridor that roughly follows Route 17 from Mahwah to Rochelle Park — will reduce noise around Hackensack University Medical Center. But The Record reported Wednesday that maps published by a navigational aid company ahead of the trial show that it could take jets over a half dozen schools and The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood. Officials asked if the government could delay the test, even for just a couple of months, so that communities would have more time to study and respond to the route. But FAA officials at the meeting demurred, saying they did not even know who could make the decision to delay the test. Instead, they suggested that people concerned about the flight path should contact the FAA by writing to an email address — 9-aea-noise@faa.gov — during the test period. Hours after the meeting, an FAA spokeswoman, Arlene Salac, clarified: “There are no plans at this time to delay the test.” Not everyone at the meeting opposed the new flight path. Albert Dib, a legal analyst who works for Hackensack, said his city had “endured” the current route for decades. Dib said it was time for other people in Bergen County to share the noise burden from an airport that makes a significant economic contribution to the region. Teterboro is a reliever airport that services smaller aircraft — mainly corporate jets — that would otherwise clog up the region’s three commercial airports. “I have listened to our colleagues from the north and they have well-founded concerns,” Dib said. “But this is a time for equity and time we all stood up and accepted … having this burden on our region.” The exchanges came following a brief presentation by Gary Palm, the air traffic control manager at Teterboro Airport, in which he sought to allay concerns about the revised flight path. Teterboro has two runways. Palm explained that the test route only applies to aircraft landing on the north-south runway and that it will only be used when weather conditions are clear — mostly in the late spring and through the summer. The field’s other runway directs traffic over Bogota and Teaneck to the northeast and Carlstadt to the southwest. Palm, an FAA employee, said the new test route would affect a “very small percentage” of flights, estimating that it could average 20 to 25 “approaches” per day, with some days more heavily trafficked than others. He added that since many aircraft using the north-south runway already fly over the same general area as they would under the new approach, the FAA anticipates “little to no change in the noise profile.” That did little to quiet local representatives who peppered Palm and his colleague Dana Rose-Kelly, an assistant air traffic district manager, with questions and concerns for more than one hour. Chief among their worries was that none of the towns newly-affected by the test route were represented on the advisory committee that was instrumental in securing it. The Teterboro Aircraft Noise Abatement Advisory Committee comprised FAA and airport officials as well as representatives of towns affected by the current flight path. The officials wanted to know why information about the new route had been disseminated to representatives of their towns only at the last minute. Jovan Mehandzic, an assistant engineer from Ridgewood, asked if the FAA had any data on estimated noise levels for the newly affected communities. The FAA’s Palm said no, the study would return those results. Vanessa Jachzel, a councilwoman from Ramsey, pushed back on the assertion that the new flight path would not have much adverse impact. “If that is the case, why do it at all?” Jachzel asked. Noting the number of schools beneath the new flight path, state Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi (R-River Vale) asked if the test could be delayed a few months to limit the impact on students. Schepisi said the delay would also ease the appearance that the FAA is “sneaking something in in the dead of night.” The FAA says that it is implementing the flight path at the request of the advisory committee. The committee’s chief concern is noise and safety for residents of a string of high-rise apartments in Hackensack as well as for workers and patients at Hackensack University Medical Center. Ron Jones, a former director of security at HackensackUMC, who spoke at Wednesday’s meeting, said safety and noise had been an issue at the hospital for more than a decade. Jones, a former mayor of Hasbrouck Heights who has been involved with the advisory committee, said planes frequently descend very close to the hospital, which sits less than two miles from the end of the runway. He said that there have been longstanding concerns about the potential for a jet to crash into the hospital. He added that the federal and airport officials had been very helpful in getting the flight path changed. Joseph D’Arco, the borough administrator for Paramus, asked why, if the flight path was being changed for HackensackUMC, The Valley Hospital had not been consulted. “If, in fact, [the flight path] was that dramatic for [Hackensack] and their residents, then what are you doing to a number of towns?” D’Arco asked. A spokeswoman for The Valley Hospital, Maureen Curran Kleinman, said in a statement: “We are disappointed that Valley was neither notified of, nor afforded the opportunity to give input on the proposed change in flight path, and we are concerned about how the new flight plan will affect the comfort and safety of our patients.” She added: “A more inclusive process and a greater effort to communicate with stakeholders should have been undertaken to ensure that both Hackensack and Valley, as well as the county’s three other acute-care hospitals, can ensure peaceful healing environments for their patients.” Outside Ho-Ho-Kus Elementary School, parents said they were concerned about the new route. Lauren Einhorn, who has a daughter in the school and another daughter entering kindergarten next year, said she hears enough planes overhead already. “It’s ridiculous,” Einhorn said. “I hear planes loudly enough that it shakes my cabinets. They fly really low, it’s very, very loud.” Bergen County Freeholder Maura DeNicola said she is “deeply concerned” about the flight-path change. “Since the FAA imposed new flight path rules on the three major metropolitan airports several years ago, I have received numerous complaints about low-flying commercial airliners flying over people’s homes at all hours of the day and night. “The FAA … did not take into account the noise and pollution problems caused by rerouting airplanes over populated areas in North Jersey – and I am afraid they are not concerned about the negative impacts from Teterboro, which has been a long-term issue for many residents in Bergen County.” Original article can be found here: http://www.northjersey.com
MAHWAH, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — Some people in North Jersey are upset that the Federal Aviation Administration is changing a flight pattern next week, and they had no say in the matter. As WCBS 880’s Alex Silverman reported, Mahwah Mayor Bill Laforet was steaming on the steps outside a public meeting on the subject Wednesday evening. “They’ve ignored us – completely ignored our concerns,” Laforet said. He said he found out three weeks ago that the FAA would start a six-month test of a new flight path in the area near Teterboro Airport next week. “They had no intentions of postponing anything,” said Mahwah Councilman Steve Sbarra. “And there were some very, very valid concerns going back to not only planes flying over hospitals, but planes flying over schools during a period where schoolchildren are going to be taking tests.” The FAA said it expects pilots to stay close to Route 17, which is already noisy. The idea behind the plan is to reduce noise around Hackensack University Medical Center. But Laforet pointed out that helicopters land on the roof of the hospital as it is. Story and video: http://newyork.cbslocal.com
GASTONIA, N.C. – Gastonia Fire responded to a plane fire at Gastonia Municipal Airport Wednesday night. Just after 9 p.m., emergency personnel responded to a single-engine plane fire. According to officials, the plane was not in flight. Firefighters say the plane is from out of town. The plane is a total loss due to the damage and no one was injured. "I've got 40,000 hours flying airplanes and fire isn't something I like. that's about all I can say," said Bob Bitell. Officials said that the incident will most likely be investigated by the FAA to determine a cause. Story and raw video: http://www.wcnc.com
GASTONIA, NC -- Firefighters were dispatched to an airplane on fire Wednesday night at Gastonia Municipal Airport. Gastonia fire was dispatched around 9:00 pm, and say that the plane is a total loss. Nobody was inured in the fire. Police say that the plane was not in flight when it caught on fire. They do not know the cause, but say that the FAA is investigating. Story and raw video: http://www.wfmynews2.com
GASTONIA, N.C. — Officials are responding to a plane on fire at the Gastonia Municipal Airport Wednesday night.
Crews arrived on the scene at 9:10 p.m. The single-engine plane was not in flight. Officials said the plane was unoccupied at the time of the fire. Story and video: http://www.wsoctv.com
GASTONIA, N.C. (WBTV) —Emergency crews in Gaston County responded Wednesday night to a single-engine plane fire at Gastonia's airport. The fire broke out in a plane at the Gastonia Municipal Airport on the 1100 block of Gaston Day School Road just after 9 p.m. Officials have not said what type of plane was involved or if any injuries were reported. The Union Road Volunteer Fire Department posted photos of the plane on Twitter after the fire was out. Firefighters said the incident involved a single-engine plane that was strapped down and not in flight. Original article can be found here: http://www.wyff4.com
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — No one was injured after a small plane crashed on the runway of the Chesterfield Airport Wednesday morning. According to Virginia State Police, a single engine Piper aircraft had taken off the from the Chesterfield Airport and completed its flight and was coming back to land. Upon touching down, the landing gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to slide to a stop. The fuselage and propeller were damaged, although the pilot – who was the occupant – was not injured. The FAA, which responded to the scene, and the NTSB were notified. The crash remains under investigation. Original article can be found here: http://wric.com
A single-engine airplane was damaged Wednesday when its landing gear collapsed while touching down on a runway at Chesterfield County Airport. The crash occurred about 11:45 a.m. on the main runway, Virginia State Police said. No one was injured in the crash, which damaged the propeller and fuselage of the aircraft. The pilot was the plane's only occupant. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board as well as Virginia State Police are investigating the crash. Original article can be found here: http://www.richmond.com
HONOLULU — The American Civil Liberties Union says it won’t sue the state of Hawaii after officials agreed to stop citing people for taking photos from a sidewalk near the Honolulu International Airport. The ACLU of Hawaii said Tuesday the agreement reached with the state attorney general’s office affirms the First Amendment right to take photographs in public. The dispute stems from a state sheriff citing an amateur photographer for photographing airplanes along Lagoon Drive without a permit. The ACLU says the attorney general’s office is ensuring state sheriffs are aware of the right to public photography. Hawaii Administrative Rules are being amended to clarify that photography in public spaces doesn’t require a permit. Attorney General Doug Chin says his office acted promptly to correct the issue.
The Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA) has launched an investigation into an incident last week in which the newly purchased Cayman Airways Express Saab 340 aircraft was damaged by a private jet at the airport on Grand Cayman. A release Wednesday morning by the airline said that on the night of Thursday, 24 March, the jet blast of a private aircraft that was maneuvering on the ramp at the Owen Roberts International Airport damaged the Saab, which was parked and secured for the night. While Cayman Airways Limited (CAL) described the damage as minor, a release from the airline said the 34-seater Saab, which is used exclusively for the Cayman Brac to Grand Cayman route, had been removed from its upcoming scheduled operations in order to conduct the necessary repairs and is expected to resume service later this week. “During this period, Cayman Airways has made alternate scheduling and aircraft arrangements to ensure that all passengers are able to be accommodated with minimal inconvenience until the Saab is back in service,” the airline stated. A spokesperson for the Airports Authority said, “The CIAA investigation into this incident is ongoing and once completed will be reviewed by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands. It would be improper to comment at this early point in the investigation.” CAACI Director General Richard Smith confirmed to CNS that a release on the matter will be issued once the investigation is complete. However, he said that at this point in time he could not answer questions on “any legal infraction by the pilot or owner(s) of the private aircraft concerned or possible consequences. It would also be inappropriate to comment further until the investigation has been completed,” he added. Cayman Airways CEO Fabian Whorms said that the Saab had been operating very reliably since its full launch into service, replacing the previously leased Embraer 120 in January. “So to have this unanticipated removal from service over the Easter weekend was very disappointing,” he added. “Cayman Airways apologises for any inconvenience caused during this period and we thank our loyal customers for their continued support.” Original article can be found here: https://caymannewsservice.com
SMITHFIELD, R.I. — A father and son team will be flying a small Cessna airplane from Rhode Island to California next month, but it's what's in the tank that makes this trip special. The plane is fueled by renewable, sustainable biodiesel. On April 16, weather permitting, Ross and Aedan McCurdy will take off from North Central Airport in Smithfield. In the tank: diesel fuel made from oil squeezed out of Camelina plant seeds mixed with regular aviation jet fuel. "Plants like Camelina, they don't take a lot of water or fertilizer. They can grow in northern climates. The seeds are 40 percent oil that can be turned in to fuel," said Ross McCurdy about why he's so psyched about the trip. He's also a teacher at Ponaganset High School, and he did a bio flight a few years back to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The biofuel in that plane was made from recycled cooking grease, but this coast-to-coast trip will make the history books. "This is not an experimental aircraft. It's not experimental fuel. All certified, and this will be the first flight," Ross McCurdy said. After leaving Smithfield, the McCurdys will be stopping off at six airports before they get to Santa Monica to top off their tank with 10 five-gallon drums of biofuel. Renewable, sustainable biofuel makes us less dependent on foreign oil, and it's more efficient. On top of the fact that one acre of Camelina makes 50 gallons of fuel. "The typical (aviation gasoline) engine uses about 13 to 14 gallons per hour, and this one uses about eight, eight and a half gallons per hour. So, 30 to 40 percent savings in fuel," Ross McCurdy said. Not to mention spectacular! Aedan McCurdy said he can't wait. "It's just a lot of fun. You can see everything from just a different view," he said. To follow along, to find out more, or to sponsor, visit the Coast to Coast Biofuel Airplane Project website. Story and video: http://turnto10.com
CIMARRON FLYING SERVICE LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N127LC FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA Atlanta FSDO-11 NTSB Identification: GAA16CA169 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation Accident occurred Thursday, March 24, 2016 in Monticello, GA Probable Cause Approval Date: 06/01/2016 Aircraft: AMERICAN LEGEND AIRCRAFT CO AL3, registration: N127LC Injuries: 1 Minor. NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll with a quartering tailwind, he lost directional control, departed the runway, and impacted a tree. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's decision to land with a quartering tail wind, and failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in runway excursion, and collision with a tree.
KAMLOOPS — A pilot from the Pacific Flying Club has walked away after the single engine plane he was piloting crashed this morning in the Cariboo. The incident happened in the Meadow Lake Road area between Clinton and 70 Mile House. Bill Yearwood of the Transportation Safety Board says it appears the crash was caused by a mechanical issue in the Cessna 172. "First information is that the pilot reported some problems and was trying to land the aircraft. He is okay, and has been taken to hospital to have a look at any bumps and bruises," said Yearwood. Yearwood says the Pacific Flying Club is based at the Boundary Bay Airport in the Lower Mainland, and the man was en route to Vanderhoof. Yearwood adds the TSB plans on interviewing the pilot before releasing the damaged aircraft. The Pacific Flying Club's Clark Duimel says the pilot suffered a few bumps and bruises, but was otherwise uninjured. Duimel says the pilot is very experienced, with 150 hours of flying time, the majority of it on planes like the one that crashed. He adds the cause of the crash may have been a mechanical issue, and the pilot was trying to land when the crash occurred. Original article can be found here: http://cfjctoday.com
http://registry.faa.gov/N744H FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA West Columbia FSDO-13 NTSB Identification: GAA16CA170 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation Accident occurred Tuesday, March 29, 2016 in Ridgeland, SC Probable Cause Approval Date: 06/01/2016 Aircraft: WACO CTO, registration: N744H Injuries: 1 Uninjured. NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped bi-plane reported that during the landing roll, the bi-plane started turning to the right, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the nose of the bi-plane impacted the ground. The bi-plane sustained substantial damage to the left lower wing. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop.
The Wall Street Journal By GABRIELE STEINHAUSER in Brussels and ROBERT WALL in London March 30, 2016 3:18 p.m. ET Last week’s devastating bombings have put the operators of Brussels Airport in a difficult position: how to reopen a crucial piece of transport infrastructure in the wake of severe destruction while paying respect to the scene of such recent trauma. The twin explosions on check-in rows 11 and 2, triggered by two Islamic State suicide bombers, tore through the airport’s departure hall on the morning of March 22, killing at least 16 people and injuring more than 100. They blew out the hall’s glass front and air ducts, partially collapsed ceilings and ripped apart check-in desks, computers and other equipment central to an airport that last year handled more than 23 million passengers. The arrivals hall, where passengers pick up checked-in luggage and passed through customs, was also damaged. A third bomb, containing even more explosives than the first two, detonated in the afternoon, causing further destruction. “It’s clear that we won’t restart in this war zone,” said Anke Fransen, the airport’s spokeswoman. To get the airport back to its full capacity of around 600 daily flights will require a full renovation of the departure hall and could take months, Ms. Fransen said. “We won’t commit ourselves to a date,” she said. The attacks have left the airport and many of the people working there in a state of shock. At least one check-in agent, Fabiennne Vansteenkiste, was killed during the bombings. Since March 22, no commercial passenger flights have passed through Brussels Airport and Ms. Fransen said Wednesday that it will remain closed until at least Thursday afternoon. By then, airlines, baggage handlers and government-security agencies are expected to have finished their assessment of whether they can partially resume operations from temporary departure and arrival areas. Belgian authorities have ordered baggage checks at the airport’s entrance doors as well as the use of sniffer dogs to detect explosives. How long that will take to put in place is still unclear. Deutsche Lufthansa AG has canceled all flights to Brussels through at least Sunday. Instead, it is shuttling people from its Frankfurt hub and offering some flights to the Belgian town of Liège. Other airlines have rerouted their planes to Düsseldorf, Germany; Lille, France, or nearby Charleroi. A trial run in a provisional check-in hall featured just 18 counters, but that could be increased over time, Ms. Fransen said. Initially, the airport will likely run at not more than 20% of its normal capacity, she said. Brussels Airport, a closely held company in which the Belgian state still holds a 25% stake, hasn’t disclosed the financial impact from the attacks, neither in terms of damage to facilities nor lost business. The rest of the company is owned by private investors, including Ontario’s Teachers’ Pension Plan, which owns 39%, and Australia’s Macquarie Group. “We are not talking about money, we’re just talking about rebuilding,” said Ms. Fransen. “What matters is that our employees and passengers feel safe.” How much of the damage will be covered by insurance is also still unknown. “We haven’t looked in detail,” she said. What is clear is that the impact of a prolonged shutdown will hit further than just the airport. Brussels Airport is the biggest airport in Belgium and, directly and indirectly, generates as much as 1% of the country’s economic output, according to the Belgian central bank. “The impact is incredible,” said Eddy Van de Voorde, aviation specialist at the University of Antwerp. Mr. Van de Voorde said that the airport would likely get government support in case insurers can’t cover the full losses. The airport “is strategically so important,” he said. A spokesman for Belgium’s transport minister declined to comment. Airports throughout the world have experienced terrorist attacks in recent decades, but most of them resumed operations much more quickly than Brussels. Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport halted operations for about 20 minutes after a suicide-bomb blast in January 2011 that killed 37 people. The return to the airport will also be difficult for many of its regular passengers. Koen D’Hoore, a 26-year-old Belgian IT specialist who works in Ireland, flies in and out of Brussels at least once a month. He said his family had urged him to start booking flights from other airports, such as Eindhoven, Netherlands, or Antwerp, instead. But Mr. D’Hoore said he preferred to stick with the more practical Brussels. “I don’t want to be eaten by the fear of what happened there,” he said. But, said Mr. D’Hoore, walking through the departure hall for the first time “will be very weird.” —Matthias Verbergt and Olga Padorina contributed to this article. Original article can be found here: http://www.wsj.com
News release Transportation Safety Board identifies unstable approach as key factor in 2016 fatal accident of Mitsubishi MU-2 aircraft in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec Montréal, Quebec, 10 January 2018 – Today, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its investigation report (A16A0032) into the March 2016 fatal collision with terrain of a Mitsubishi MU-2 twin-engine turboprop aircraft in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec. The report underlines the risks of continuing an unstable approach to a landing, which is on the TSB Watchlist of key safety issues that need to be addressed to make Canada's transportation system even safer. On 29 March 2016, the MU-2 aircraft departed Montréal/Saint-Hubert Airport for Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, an approximate two-hour flight. On board were the pilot, a passenger-pilot, and five passengers. During the final approach, when the aircraft was 1.4 nautical miles west-southwest of the airport, it deviated south of the approach path. At approximately 1230 Atlantic Daylight Time, aircraft control was lost, resulting in the aircraft striking the ground in a near-level attitude. The aircraft was destroyed, and all occupants were fatally injured. The MU-2 is a high-performance aircraft, which is especially challenging to fly at low airspeed, particularly during sudden applications of engine power. While in cruise flight, the pilot modified his approach plan by delaying the aircraft's initial descent. This placed the aircraft above the planned descent profile and compressed the time available for the pilot to complete the required checklist activities, while monitoring the aircraft's airspeed, altitude and rate of descent, thereby increasing the pilot's workload. Under these high workload conditions, the pilot likely did not recognize that a go-around was an option available to reduce his workload, and he continued with the unstable approach. During the final moments of the flight, a loss of control occurred when the pilot rapidly added full power, at low airspeed and low altitude, which caused an aircraft upset and resulted in the aircraft sharply rolling to the right and descending rapidly. Although the pilot managed to level the wings, the aircraft was too low to recover before striking the ground. "We have seen too many of these unstable approaches in the past lead to tragic accidents," said Kathy Fox, TSB Chair. "It is important that pilots consider conducting a go-around when an approach is unstable. We will continue to highlight the risks of unstable approaches until there is a reduction in the number of accidents in which approach stability was a causal or contributory factor." Regulators, operators and aircraft manufacturers have defined stable-approach criteria, which pilots are trained to follow. Stable approaches make landings more consistent and predictable—giving pilots time to monitor key elements such as airspeed, altitude, rate of descent, and to complete checklists—thereby improving the likelihood of a safe landing. In this investigation, a crucial source of information was the lightweight recorder that the pilot had developed and installed on board the aircraft, even though it was not required by regulation. The device provided investigators with highly valuable acceleration and GPS data as well as cockpit audio, allowing them to piece together a detailed history of the flight. "The benefits of lightweight recorders are obvious: knowing what happened is the first step to understanding why. Although the TSB does not endorse any single product, it would be fair to say that the lightweight recorder on this aircraft can be viewed as an indication of the way forward," added Chair Fox. Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca
The Transportation Safety Board will hold a news conference to release its investigation report into the March 2016 fatal accident of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 aircraft in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec Montréal, Quebec, 08 January 2018 – The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) will hold a news conference on 10 January 2018 to make public its investigation report (A16A0032) into the March 2016 fatal collision with terrain of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 aircraft in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec. When:10 January 2018 at 10 am Eastern time Who:Kathy Fox, TSB Chair Natacha Van Themsche, Director of Air Investigations, TSB Where:Holiday Inn Montréal Centre-Ville Room Hibiscus A&B 999 Saint-Urbain, Montréal, Quebec Paid parking available The event will be broadcast live on www.ustream.tv/channel/transportation-safety-board-of-canada This event is for media only. Media representatives will need to show their outlet identification. Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca
Carole Williams shared this photo of pilot Pascal Gosselin, taken several years ago.
Pilot Pascal Gosselin (in red) and onlookers survey the damage after Gosselin's single-engine plane was forced out of the sky without working landing gear and landed at the Region of Waterloo International Airport on January 7, 2013
Îles-de-la-Madeleine Airport: Arrival of Transportation Safety Board of Canada - Royal Canadian Mounted Police plane
This Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 crashed on March 29, 2016 in the Iles de la Madeleine, killing all seven people onboard.
Marquise Aviation Corporation Trustee: http://registry.faa.gov/N246W NTSB Identification: CEN16RA136 14 CFR Non-U.S., Non-Commercial Accident occurred Tuesday, March 29, 2016 in Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Canada Aircraft: MITSUBISHI MU 2B, registration: N246W Injuries: 7 Fatal. This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. The foreign authority was the source of this information. On March 29, 2016, at 1230 Atlantic Daylight Time, a Mitsubishi MU2B-60, US-registered N246W, owned by Marquise Aviation Corporation Trustee, was destroyed when it impacted terrain under unknown circumstances 2 kilometers southwest of Iles-de-la-Madeleine airport (CYGR), Quebec, Canada. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The two pilots and five passengers were fatally injured. The flight originated from St. Hubert (CYHU), Quebec, Canada, at 0931 Eastern Daylight Time, at was en route to CYGR. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada investigators reported that the airplane struck terrain while on an instrument approach to runway 07 at CYGR. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the Canadian government. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the Canadian government or Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Transportation Safety Board of Canada 200 Promenade du Portage Place du Centre, 4th Floor Hull, Quebec K1A 1K8 Canada Website: http://www.tsb.gc.caAviation Investigation Report A16A0032: http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca Aviation Investigation Page A16A0032: http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca Watchlist 2016 – Unstable approaches: http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/surveillance-watchlist/aviation/2016/air-01.asp Background - Investigation findings: http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca Background - Unstable approach and aircraft upset: http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca
News release TSB identifies unstable approach as key factor in 2016 fatal accident of Mitsubishi MU-2 aircraft in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec Montréal, Quebec, 10 January 2018 – Today, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its investigation report (A16A0032) into the March 2016 fatal collision with terrain of a Mitsubishi MU-2 twin-engine turboprop aircraft in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec. The report underlines the risks of continuing an unstable approach to a landing, which is on the TSB Watchlist of key safety issues that need to be addressed to make Canada's transportation system even safer. On 29 March 2016, the MU-2 aircraft departed Montréal/Saint-Hubert Airport for Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, an approximate two-hour flight. On board were the pilot, a passenger-pilot, and five passengers. During the final approach, when the aircraft was 1.4 nautical miles west-southwest of the airport, it deviated south of the approach path. At approximately 1230 Atlantic Daylight Time, aircraft control was lost, resulting in the aircraft striking the ground in a near-level attitude. The aircraft was destroyed, and all occupants were fatally injured. The MU-2 is a high-performance aircraft, which is especially challenging to fly at low airspeed, particularly during sudden applications of engine power. While in cruise flight, the pilot modified his approach plan by delaying the aircraft's initial descent. This placed the aircraft above the planned descent profile and compressed the time available for the pilot to complete the required checklist activities, while monitoring the aircraft's airspeed, altitude and rate of descent, thereby increasing the pilot's workload. Under these high workload conditions, the pilot likely did not recognize that a go-around was an option available to reduce his workload, and he continued with the unstable approach. During the final moments of the flight, a loss of control occurred when the pilot rapidly added full power, at low airspeed and low altitude, which caused an aircraft upset and resulted in the aircraft sharply rolling to the right and descending rapidly. Although the pilot managed to level the wings, the aircraft was too low to recover before striking the ground. "We have seen too many of these unstable approaches in the past lead to tragic accidents," said Kathy Fox, TSB Chair. "It is important that pilots consider conducting a go-around when an approach is unstable. We will continue to highlight the risks of unstable approaches until there is a reduction in the number of accidents in which approach stability was a causal or contributory factor." Regulators, operators and aircraft manufacturers have defined stable-approach criteria, which pilots are trained to follow. Stable approaches make landings more consistent and predictable—giving pilots time to monitor key elements such as airspeed, altitude, rate of descent, and to complete checklists—thereby improving the likelihood of a safe landing. In this investigation, a crucial source of information was the lightweight recorder that the pilot had developed and installed on board the aircraft, even though it was not required by regulation. The device provided investigators with highly valuable acceleration and GPS data as well as cockpit audio, allowing them to piece together a detailed history of the flight. "The benefits of lightweight recorders are obvious: knowing what happened is the first step to understanding why. Although the TSB does not endorse any single product, it would be fair to say that the lightweight recorder on this aircraft can be viewed as an indication of the way forward," added Chair Fox. http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca
The TSB will hold a news conference to release its investigation report into the March 2016 fatal accident of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 aircraft in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec Montréal, Quebec, 08 January 2018 – The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) will hold a news conference on 10 January 2018 to make public its investigation report (A16A0032) into the March 2016 fatal collision with terrain of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 aircraft in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec. When:10 January 2018 at 10 am Eastern time Who:Kathy Fox, TSB Chair Natacha Van Themsche, Director of Air Investigations, TSB Where:Holiday Inn Montréal Centre-Ville Room Hibiscus A&B 999 Saint-Urbain, Montréal, Quebec Paid parking available The event will be broadcast live on www.ustream.tv/channel/transportation-safety-board-of-canada This event is for media only. Media representatives will need to show their outlet identification. http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca
Marquise Aviation Corporation Trustee: http://registry.faa.gov/N246W NTSB Identification: CEN16RA136 14 CFR Non-U.S., Non-Commercial Accident occurred Tuesday, March 29, 2016 in Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Canada Aircraft: MITSUBISHI MU 2B, registration: N246W Injuries: 7 Fatal. This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. The foreign authority was the source of this information. On March 29, 2016, at 1230 Atlantic Daylight Time, a Mitsubishi MU2B-60, US-registered N246W, owned by Marquise Aviation Corporation Trustee, was destroyed when it impacted terrain under unknown circumstances 2 kilometers southwest of Iles-de-la-Madeleine airport (CYGR), Quebec, Canada. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The two pilots and five passengers were fatally injured. The flight originated from St. Hubert (CYHU), Quebec, Canada, at 0931 Eastern Daylight Time, at was en route to CYGR. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada investigators reported that the airplane struck terrain while on an instrument approach to runway 07 at CYGR. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the Canadian government. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the Canadian government or Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Transportation Safety Board of Canada 200 Promenade du Portage Place du Centre, 4th Floor Hull, Quebec K1A 1K8 Canada Website: http://www.tsb.gc.ca
Update on TSB investigation into the accident involving a Mitsubishi MU-2B in les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 1 April 2016 – The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) continues its independent investigation into the 29 March 2016 aircraft accident in les Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec. What we know Moncton Air Traffic Control cleared the aircraft for an instrument approach to Runway 07 at les Îles-de-la-Madeleine Airport. Preliminary observations indicate that the aircraft was near wings level in a slight nose-high attitude at impact. More analysis of the aircraft attitude at impact is required. The wreckage is contained in a 150m x 150m field. The aircraft came to rest approximately 91m from the initial point of impact. Initial assessments indicate that the engines were producing power at the time of impact. The investigation will examine previous occurrences with this type of aircraft, and subsequent safety action taken in Canada, the United States (U.S.) and other jurisdictions. It is believed that there is a GPS tracking device installed in the aircraft. The team will recover the device for further analysis. Approach-and-landing is a phase of flight during which a high number of accidents take place. The investigation will be paying close attention to this Watchlist issue. Progress to date There are currently seven TSB investigative team members on site. So far, the team has: Almost completed the examination and documentation of the accident site; Obtained initial witness statements from the Sûreté du Québec. The team may do follow-up interviews with selected eyewitnesses; Taken photographs of the wreckage and obtained aerial images from the Canadian Coast Guard; Appointed a TSB team member as a family liaison person. Collaboration The TSB conducts independent investigations in collaboration with numerous agencies. In this investigation: The Canadian Coast Guard has provided high-resolution aerial imaging of the accident site. The Sûreté du Québec is responsible for ensuring that there was no criminal activity surrounding the occurrence. They secured and surveyed the site, conducted initial witness interviews and provided site documentation. Information collected will be provided to the TSB for the investigation. A Transport Canada Minister’s Observer has arrived at the accident site. Contacts have been established with the Coroner’s Office to coordinate our activities. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has an accredited representative on site, as the aircraft was registered in the U.S. This is granted under international conventions and the purpose is to facilitate the transfer of information between both countries. The NTSB accredited representative is accompanied by a second NTSB investigator and technical advisors from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the aircraft manufacturer, and the manufacturer of the engines. Next steps The Field Phase of the investigation will be concluding, and the Examination and Analysis Phase will commence. In the coming days and weeks, the team will: Transport the aircraft to the TSB Laboratory in Ottawa for further analysis; Examine components such as instrumentation and any device that contains non-volatile memory; Gather additional information about weather conditions; Gather information on air traffic communications and radar information; Obtain and examine aircraft maintenance records; Obtain and examine pilot training, qualifications and proficiency records; Interview family, witnesses, the aircraft operator and others; Review operational policies and procedures; Examine the regulatory requirements; Examine survivability issues such as cabin and cockpit crashworthiness and emergency response; and Examine the MU-2 aircraft design and previous safety communications and studies in Canada and elsewhere.
Additional updates will be provided as required. Visit the active investigation page for more information about this investigation. Original article can be found here: http://www.tsb.gc.ca
TSB investigator Bruce Mullen collaborating with National Transportation Safety Board investigator Jennifer Rod.
The Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 plane that crashed in the Magdalen Islands earlier this week — killing former federal Liberal cabinet minister and political commentator Jean Lapierre and several members of his family — was a model that was prone to accidents and required special pilot training.
But the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said it is still unclear whether difficulties with the Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 were a factor in the crash.
Senior investigator André Turenne acknowledged at a news conference in the Magdalen Islands Friday that the MU-2B has had a spotty safety record. However, he added that Mitsubishi has developed a special training program to help pilots compensate for the plane's vulnerabilities.
"We will look at whether this process of requalification was a factor," he said. "Did the pilot have the competence?"
TSB officials released more details about the crash at the news conference as they prepared to end the first phase of their investigation. They stressed, however, that it was too early to speculate about a cause.
A team of investigators has spent the past several days collecting witness statements and evidence from the crash site, about three kilometres from the Magdalen Islands airport.
"The first phase is concluding," Turenne said. "Much work remains to be done."
Turenne confirmed preliminary observations that indicated the plane crashed on its approach to the airfield near Havre-aux-Maisons.
He added the plane's engines appeared to be operational at the time of the crash, and its wings were relatively level when it made impact with the ground.
"We know it wasn't going straight down," Turenne said. "There was a bit of rolling on the left side."
Over the coming days, the TSB team will begin preparing the wreckage to be moved to its laboratory in Ottawa. Turenne said that will facilitate attempts to retrieve the plane's GPS device.
It is believed to be lodged in the cockpit, Turenne said, but the instrument panel is too heavily damaged to access it.
The MU-2B is not equipped with a black box, but its GPS device does have voice-recording capability.
"We can't guarantee that all the information will be available," Turenne said. "It is not a device designed to withstand impacts."
Lapierre, along with his wife, sister and two brothers, were headed to the Magdalen Islands on Tuesday to attend the funeral of Lapierre's father when their plane crashed on its approach to the Havre-aux-Maisons airport.
The plane's pilot, Pascal Gosselin, and co-pilot, Fabrice Labourel, were also killed. There were no survivors.
The tragedy has devastated the small island community and stunned Quebec's political class.
One of the founding members of the Bloc Québécois before returning to the federal Liberal fold to become Paul Martin's Quebec lieutenant, Lapierre had friends and allies across Quebec's political spectrum.
Along with having served as federal transport minister, Lapierre was a popular political commentator in both French and English.
Transport Canada says the investigation into the plane crash that killed former federal politician Jean Lapierre and four of his family members is a “complex” one. The plane, a Mitsubishi MU-2, was registered in Delaware but was flown from the St-Hubert Airport to Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Normally, a U.S.-registered plane is not allowed to carry commercial traffic between two Canadian destinations. In a statement, Transport Canada said it’s working with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration “to examine the details of this complex case.” A spokesperson for the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said that agency is also involved, providing technical assistance to Canadian investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. FAA records indicate Lapierre’s pilot, Pascal Gosselin, became certified as a private pilot in the U.S. in June 2014, while co-pilot Fabrice Labourel was certified as a commercial pilot in the U.S. in March 2014. Transport Canada said that to operate an MU-2, pilots require a “type rating” on their licenses, certifying they have the required training. After a spate of fatal crashes involving the MU-2, the FAA conducted a safety evaluation and, in 2009, brought in specific new training requirements for pilots operating MU-2s in the U.S. It’s unclear if Lapierre’s pilot or co-pilot had taken specific MU-2 training. Friends have said Gosselin posted on Facebook about completing the special MU-2 training. It’s also unclear if Lapierre’s flight was a paid commercial flight or if it was a private flight. Gosselin’s family has indicated it had a close friendship with the Lapierres. Different regulations apply to commercial and private flights. Gosselin owned an aircraft maintenance company, Aéro Teknic, which specializes in aircraft maintenance at St-Hubert Airport. Transport Canada said it has deployed two inspectors to Aéro Teknic to check whether the company was in compliance with Canadian Aviation Regulations. Lapierre was travelling with his wife, two brothers and one of his sisters. All seven people on board were killed. Original article can be found here: http://montrealgazette.com
Magdalen Islands fatal crash has aviation experts questioning decision to take off While a joint investigation led by the Transportation Safety Board is underway in Quebec's Magdalen Islands to determine what caused the crash that killed all seven people on board, some pilots and other aviation experts are questioning why the flight took off in bad weather. The plane left St-Hubert Longueuil Airport on Montreal's South Shore at 9:30 a.m. ET. It went down at around 11:40 a.m. AT just three kilometres from the Magdalen Island airport, in freezing fog and rain. All seven people on board — including political pundit and former cabinet minister Jean Lapierre, his wife, three siblings and two crew members — were killed. Investigators who arrived at the crash site Wednesday afternoon said it is too soon to know for sure if weather was the cause of the crash. Some pilots at St-Hubert airport told CBC News they didn't want to risk flying in the bad conditions. "The wind was blowing at 45 knots during the day, the clouds were low and visibility was reduced," said Michel Turcotte, a pilot for Pascan Aviation, a regional airline based in Saint-Hubert. Pascan Aviation cancelled its Tuesday flights for the Magdalen Islands. "If the clouds are high enough that we can see the runway, we can land. But if they drop a bit, we can't," Turcotte said. In Canada, when it comes to small aircraft, it's up to the pilot to decide whether to fly, according to Daniel Adams, an aviation security analyst. "It's always the pilot who has the last word. Based on weather data that existed [Tuesday], it is clear in my mind that I would not have [made an] approach to the Magdalen Islands," Adams told Radio-Canada. The pilot, Pascal Gosselin, and co-pilot, Fabrice Labourel, were both killed in the crash. Christian Guy, a friend of Gosselin, said he believes the pilot was a victim of his own generosity. "Pascal wore his heart on his sleeve and I think he really wanted to help Mr. Lapierre and his family," Guy said. Lapierre, his wife and three of his siblings were on their way to the Magdalen Islands for their father's funeral. Despite that, Guy said, his friend was prudent and never took unnecessary risks. "If he decided to take off yesterday, it's because he was certain he could have done it in complete safety." Gosselin owned Aero Teknic, the company operating the flight. Aero Teknic would not comment. Other experts are raising questions about the plane itself — a Mitsubishi MU-2. "This is not an airplane that is made to fly in our weather conditions. This is a plane that is made to be fast," said Charles-Eric Lamarche, an air operations consultant for Octant Aviation. "They do have small wings and it's a little tougher for them to sustain a small amount of ice." In a statement, the plane's manufacturer Mitsubishi said, "The aircraft has a best in its class safety record during the last eight years." Mitsubishi said it is sending its own investigators to the crash site as well, and will collaborate fully with the TSB investigation.
Carole Williams shared this photo of pilot Pascal Gosselin, taken several years ago.
The plane involved in Tuesday's deadly crash in the Iles de la Madeleine has a spotty safety record.
Pilot Pascal Gosselin and co-pilot Fabrice Labourel were flying a Mitsubishi turboprop, the MU-2. First built in the 1950s, the MU-2 was involved in hundreds of crashes causing more than 330 deaths. "The safety record and the reputation of this aircraft is poor," said Daniel Adams, a pilot who works out of the St. Hubert airport. The plane that crashed was registered in the United States and owned by Gosselin, the owner of Aero Teknic.
This Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 crashed Tuesday, March 29, 2016 in the Iles de la Madeleine, killing all seven people aboard.
"The reason why you buy this type of aircraft is only for the price because it's the cheapest price if you want to have a small aircraft, turboprop engine," said Adams. Jean Lapierre and his family chartered the plane to fly to the Iles de la Madeleine on Tuesday, after other flights to the island were cancelled due to the weather. Pilots who spoke to CTV Montreal said that Aero Teknic was only permitted to take passengers on pleasure flights, and was not licenced to carry passengers on a commercial charter flight. Everyone aboard the plane died in Tuesday's crash. Gosselin is survived by three children, while Labourel's wife gave birth four months ago.
Îles-de-la-Madeleine Airport: Transportation Safety Board of Canada getting off Royal Canadian Mounted Police plane.
FAA investigation The number of crashes involving the MU-2 declined drastically a decade ago, following a Federal Aviation Agency investigation of the plane and a demand from a U.S. congressman to ground the plane. The FAA found that the number of crashes in North America was higher than in Europe, where more extensive training was required. As a result the FAA issued an order in 2008 saying that all MU-2 pilots should undergo extra training in order to learn how the handle the plane. The MU-2 is a twin-engine turboprop, but it is capable of flying at very high speeds and uses spoilers instead of ailerons. Pilots who have flown the plane say it handles like a jet, and so those used to other aircraft can make mistakes in the event of an aviation emergency. Mitsubishi said in a statement that since the FAA mandated extra training, it has achieved a best-in-class safety record. "The majority of approximately 270 MU-2 aircraft are registered in the United States where the aircraft has a best in its class safety record during the last eight years," wrote Scott Sobel of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America. Story, video and photos: http://montreal.ctvnews.ca
Pilot Pascal Gosselin (in red) and onlookers survey the damage after Gosselin's single-engine plane was forced out of the sky without working landing gear and landed at the Region of Waterloo International Airport on January 7, 2013
Published January 7, 2013 3:53PM EST Pilot in good spirits after emergency landing in Breslau A tense moment in the skies over Waterloo Region ended with sighs of relief as a plane was able to land safely Monday afternoon. Pascal Gosselin was the pilot and sole occupant of a five-seater Cessna P120 he was flying from Montreal to Breslau. Up in the air above southern Ontario, Gosselin realized he had a problem – his landing gear refused to release. “I tried a bunch of maneuvers to get the landing gear out – manually, putting some G-force on it – it wouldn’t come down,” pilot Pascal Gosselin told CTV. The pilot’s first call was to his mechanic back home in Montreal, who made several suggestions, but not of them resulted in a successful deployment of the landing gear. After that, Gosselin updated the Region of Waterloo International Airport control tower on the situation. Airport officials provided their own suggestions. “He stayed in the air for 45 minutes more to try and rattle it down,” said airport manager Chris Wood. With fire crews from Breslau and Maryhill now on their way to the airport, Gosselin brought the plane down, trying to pull off a controlled landing without his landing gear. “It didn’t work. Ultimately he ended up putting his nose onto the runway,” said Wood. It wasn’t a perfect landing, but it did allow Gosselin to get out of the plane safely and without injury. The same couldn’t be said for the Cessna itself, which will need a new engine and propeller. Still, Gosselin sees nothing that can’t be fixed. “It’s just bent metal. She’ll be flying again,” he said. “That’s what you have insurance for.”
But The Record reported Wednesday that maps published by a navigational aid company ahead of the trial show that it could take jets over a half dozen schools and The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood.
