Abbotsford Commuter Aircraft Mishap, Feb 23, 2018

[Rowdy]

We were operating a 705 category turboprop the same day, at approximately the same times not that far away in +SN.. Our holdover time from a deice bay with trucks spraying type 1 and 4 in an accurate and proper manner was... 20 minutes from the start of application. It got to the point that they closed 8R and some taxiways as the snow was accumulating too quickly for the runway and taxiway teams to clear them. Even at 20 minutes on a HOT.. I can tell you when we pulled back onto the gate before the 20 mins was up that the fluids were saturated and no longer effective. I even snapped some photos when we set the park brake.

[Jimmy2]

What method is Jazz using that says you can go 20 minutes in heavy snow?

[pelmet]

What method is Jazz using that says you can go 20 minutes in heavy snow?

Perhaps it varies from operator to operator...but we don't have a holdover time for heavy snow. It is endless, as long one uses type IV undiluted fluid and does an visual inspection of the critical surfaces to determine if there has been a fluid failure.

Not easy on a high wing aircraft, of course.

[Rowdy]

HOT times are simply a guideline. We use either a system via the ACARS or an APP on the provided iPad to provide an accurate timeline. There is ALWAYS an LCI (last chance inspection) done before departing.

The 20 minute time was based on SN.. NOT +SN which is what it was when we pulled into the deice bay. We returned to the gate when it became +SN.

[jakester]

there was no co-pilot on that B100, only the owner who has a history of non compliance on record, always in a hurry or late for something due to acute disorganization.......rumour has it the Chinese just dropped a deposit for split 70\30 ownership of the company

[goingnowherefast]

The intensity of the snow isn't based on the -sn, sn or +sn in the meter. It's based on visibility and temperature. It says this right on the HOT chart.

Learn how to use the HOT guidelines and follow them accurately. They're not that complicated. If your company has their own approved procedure, use that. Just make sure it's approved and not some homebrew crap by a sketchy operator too cheap to pay for type 4 fluid.

[CpnCrunch]

In this case the 3/8 SM visibility was only in the METAR at 2000Z, which was 2 mins before takeoff. The previous SPECI at 1927 was showing 5/8SM.

[Diadem]

In this case the 3/8 SM visibility was only in the METAR at 2000Z, which was 2 mins before takeoff. The previous SPECI at 1927 was showing 5/8SM.

Okay, so that just makes it moderate snow with a HOT of 6-10 minutes from initial application. Do you think you could use a garden sprayer to clean the plane, get in, close the door, start the engines, finish all your checks, set up the avionics, taxi out, and depart in under ten minutes?

[Canuck1988]

In this case the 3/8 SM visibility was only in the METAR at 2000Z, which was 2 mins before takeoff. The previous SPECI at 1927 was showing 5/8SM.

Okay, so that just makes it moderate snow with a HOT of 6-10 minutes from initial application. Do you think you could use a garden sprayer to clean the plane, get in, close the door, start the engines, finish all your checks, set up the avionics, taxi out, and depart in under ten minutes?

As mentioned previously in this thread, using a garden sprayer to de ice an aircraft DOES NOT mean you can use the hold over times. The fluid is not applied at the proper pressure and temperature, and therefore should only be used to clean the aircraft wings (deice) at times where there is no active freezing precipitation (snow etc) or active frost.

If they used a garden sprayer, their hold over time is unknown, and I would take a guess that it would be even shorter than the published hold over times when correctly applied.

[CpnCrunch]

As mentioned previously in this thread, using a garden sprayer to de ice an aircraft DOES NOT mean you can use the hold over times. The fluid is not applied at the proper pressure and temperature, and therefore should only be used to clean the aircraft wings (deice) at times where there is no active freezing precipitation (snow etc) or active frost.

If they used a garden sprayer, their hold over time is unknown, and I would take a guess that it would be even shorter than the published hold over times when correctly applied.

Do you have a reference for that? This winter's HOT guidelines say that only type 3 fluid has a temperature requirement, and there is no mention of pressure.

http://176.62.164.158/tables/HOT_Guidel ... iginal.pdf

TP14052 just says to follow the fluid manufacturers recommendations for temperature:

https://www.tc.gc.ca/Publications/en/tp ... 14052e.pdf

"The following points should be noted regarding heating Type I fluids:...Heating for application. Follow the fluid manufacturer’s recommendation. Typically, temperatures
should be in the range of plus 60C to plus 82C."

and:

"Fluid manufacturers may also have specific operational procedures to be followed to maximize fluid
effectiveness. For example, there may be specific pressures, temperatures and procedures to ensure that
the fluid is effective in removing frozen contaminants from aircraft surfaces. Always consult the aircraft
maintenance manual for fluid application restrictions such as maximum fluid pressure to be applied to
aircraft surfaces."

[jakester]

who really cares about temps, pressure, heated or not heated fluid .....fact of the matter is all the wayward examples of previous piloting experiences by this dude culminated in a near miss for fatalities, the pilot got the worst injuries and it would be hard to shed a tear quite frankly over a complete disregard for the passengers safety, it will probably mean the demise of the company and the loss of so many jobs there, the current calculation of the monetary loss as per previous incidences of a commuter type crash is around the $ 4.5 million bucks in lost everything at the end of day.......learn by the mistakes of others

[sunk]

De icing is a joke. At the airport I work at calm air does the ground school, but no actual training on the use of the equipment. They have people off the street on the drive machine that don't have a clue about the effects of icing on aircraft. Fast air comes and goes with all types of ice on the wings. Perimeter is just as bad.

[goingnowherefast]

Are you saying there is ice remaining on the wing after the spray?
Or that they simply don't spray?

[Rowdy]

Snow in the greater vancouver area is always WET. We don't get that light powdery stuff that the rest of the country gets.

[7ECA]

UPDATE TSB Report #A18P0031: C-GIAE, a Beech B100 King Air aircraft operated by Island Express Air, was conducting flight IAX640 from Abbotsford, BC (CYXX) to San Bernardino Intl, CA (KSBD) with one pilot and 9 passengers on board. Weather conditions at CYXX at the time of departure consisted of a temperature of -2°C in moderate to heavy snowfall with winds of approximately 10 knots. Prior to the departure, the fuel tanks were filled to capacity and the pilot and passengers boarded the aircraft inside the operator’s heated hangar. The aircraft was towed outside of the hangar without being treated with anti-ice fluid, and taxied for the departure on Runway 07. Due to an inbound arrival at CYXX, C-GIAE was delayed for departure. Once cleared for takeoff, the aircraft had been exposed to snow and freezing conditions for approximately 13 minutes. After becoming airborne, the aircraft experienced power and control issues shortly after the landing gear was retracted. The aircraft collided with terrain within the airport perimeter. 4 passengers and the pilot sustained serious injuries as a result of the accident which destroyed the aircraft. CYXX ARFF responded, as well as local police and EMS.

Oh boy, somebody's gonna get sued...

[telex]

Dryden III. Fantastic.

[Zaibatsu]

I think the wings could have fallen off and this guy still would have tried to fly. A very dangerous and unprofessional attitude to have in aviation that nearly cost lives.

I bet a few thousand dollars worth of Type I and IV or waiting until the next day looks cheap now.

Good riddance.

[pelmet]

After becoming airborne, the aircraft experienced power and control issues shortly after the landing gear was retracted.

Would be curious to hear more detail on "power issues"

[goingnowherefast]

It didn't accelerate and climb like it normally does, so "must" be related to engine power.

I suspect the "power issue" is an attempt to dodge the real problem. That hypothesis most likely came from a statement from an involved party made to the TSB.

Is the TSB going to do a full investigation on this?

[JL]

Looks like it as they have a web page for it:

http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/enquetes-i ... 8p0031.asp