Incident Overview

Date: Friday 17 March 2000
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47A-5-DK Dakota 3 (DC-3C)
Owner/operator: Points North Air Services
Registration Number: C-FNTF
Location: Ennadai Lake Airport, NU (YEI) – ÿ Canada
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Component Affected: Aircraft structure (specifically the tail and wing)Aircraft structure (specifically the tail and wing)
Investigating Agency: TSBTSB
Category: Accident
A DC-3 aircraft experienced a catastrophic accident while attempting to transport building materials to Ennadai Lake. The aircraft touched down nearly halfway along the ice strip, exhibiting a rapid and uncontrolled descent, followed by a sharp turn and subsequent impact with the ice. The pilot lost control during a go-around, likely due to a balked landing. Contributing factors include an unstable center of gravity, an inaccurate load sheet index, inadequate securing of lumber, a compromised heater shroud, carbon monoxide contamination, and a potentially impaired pilot’s blood oxygen level.A DC-3 aircraft experienced a catastrophic accident while attempting to transport building materials to Ennadai Lake. The aircraft touched down nearly halfway along the ice strip, exhibiting a rapid and uncontrolled descent, followed by a sharp turn and subsequent impact with the ice. The pilot lost control during a go-around, likely due to a balked landing. Contributing factors include an unstable center of gravity, an inaccurate load sheet index, inadequate securing of lumber, a compromised heater shroud, carbon monoxide contamination, and a potentially impaired pilot’s blood oxygen level.

Description

The DC-3 was chartered to transport building materials to Ennadai Lake and was on the second flight of the day. The ice strip on the lake was 2700 feet approximate in length, 150 feet wide. The aircraft was observed to touch down nearly halfway along the ice strip, the tail of the aircraft remained in the air, and the aircraft took off almost immediately. The main landing gear was seen to retract. The aircraft reached the end of the runway then abruptly entered a steep, nose-up attitude, banked sharply to the left, turned left, and descended into the ice. The left wing made first contact with the ice. The aircraft rotated around the left wing and struck the ice in a steep, nose-down attitude about 400 feet from the end of the ice strip. FINDINGS AS TO CAUSES AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: – The pilot lost control of the aircraft while conducting a go-around from a balked landing on an ice strip. – The aircraft’s centre of gravity (C of G) on the accident flight was beyond the aft C of G limit. – The actual C of G of the aircraft at basic operating weight was 16.7 inches aft of the C of G provided in the weight and balance report. – The load sheet index number used by the crew was inaccurate. – The stack of 2×4 lumber was inadequately secured and may have shifted rearward during the go-around. – The crew did not recalculate the aircraft’s weight and balance for the second flight. – Leaks in the heater shroud allowed carbon monoxide gas to contaminate cockpit and cabin air. – The captain’s carboxyhaemoglobin level was 17.9 per cent, which may have adversely affected his performance, especially his decision making and his visual acuity.

Primary Cause

Balked landing and loss of control during a go-around.Balked landing and loss of control during a go-around.

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