A good day fishing: Engine Recovered

Widow · Post by **Widow** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:09 am

The prop will eventually be mounted at the memorial bench on Rebecca Spit ... that has been the plan for a long time ... mind, we all expected it to look like it'd been in an accident!

The engine lived in my driveway last night .... I tried to drag my bed to the other side of my room so I could watch it out the window all night, but king size beds are hard to move ... so instead i just got a pile of blankets and curled up on the floor ... it was really nice to wake up and look out the window and see the prize every 45 seconds or so!

C-FABH · Post by **C-FABH** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:37 am

I totally understand what you mean (quote from the newscast) about being wary of turning it over to the TSB -- but I'm curious, is there any sort of obligation for wreckage in this sort of scenario?

Widow · Post by **Widow** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:10 am

Only if we want our ten grand, or want the gov't to make safety recommendations ...

We don't want to know what happened just for our own satisfaction (remember, we can't sue anybody), we want to know for future prevention ...

If we were guaranteed a public inquiry, we'd be happy to forfeit the $10,000.

LuckyPilot · Post by **LuckyPilot** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 11:05 am

CONGRATS, on your fishing trip. If I may suggest get on independent expert (or two) to look at the engine and to take lots of HD photos. (I'm sure you are way ahead of me on this one.)

Most TSB inspectors couldn't find their arshole, if they were to stand infront of a full length mirror. On the other had when their feet is being held against the fire they seem to come around and see the light. GOOD LUCK!!

invertedattitude · Post by **invertedattitude** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 12:21 pm

PM Sent Widow

Dust Devil · Post by **Dust Devil** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 3:12 pm

So what is the next step Widow?

Hornblower · Post by **Hornblower** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:54 pm

[quote="clunckdriver"]Even with my poor dial up internet conection with its fuzzy pictures it looks like the blower section is in bad shape, quote]

It's not in bad shape, ... it's gone!

Now someone with more engine overhaul experience than I will know for sure, but I believe that a lot of the blower cases were made of magnesium, and a few years in salt water would turn it to powder if it was.

2R · Post by 2R » Thu Sep 13, 2007 4:19 am

Victory

The sea does not give up its secrets easily

Love has found the truth

twotter · Post by **twotter** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 4:34 am

Congrats Kirsten..

A hearty well done for all of you. It's nice to see that your efforts have been rewarded. Now it's time for the TSB to eat some crow..

Cheers

rigpiggy · Post by **rigpiggy** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:33 am

Called my MP, and inquired about TSB. Was told it's supposed to be an arms langth operation, from TC. However he also said that it's incumbent for Widow to send a letter to the minister of Transport asking for the case to be reopened, ie: My inquiry would not suffice. However he asked if he could be cc'd and he would monitor the situation. Widow please C+P the correspondence so we can all pester our MP's
Pig

CLguy · Post by **CLguy** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:16 am

Congrats Widow and to everyone involved. Hell it must seem like Christmas!!

I'd take that prop and make that idiot from the TSB who appeared on the W5 episode eat it.

I suspect damage control will be in full swing by now at the TSB and TC, so I doubt your troubles are over.

Good luck on getting the closure you deserve!

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:31 am

I'd take that prop and make that idiot from the TSB who appeared on the W5 episode eat it.

Or even better get a picture of him from the TV interviews and have the prop up his ass when you mount it as a memorial.

Widow · Post by **Widow** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 2:19 pm

The engine is on the ferry on it's way to the TSB in Vancouver right now. When it came down to it, they have the right to seize it, and we want them to do their job.

We have had a few AMEs have a look, and while there are some ideas we have decided to give the benefit of the doubt to the TSB and wait for their analysis. Mr. Yearwood has told us that the initial analysis will begin on Monday morning with an investigator from another region with whom we have previously dealt and are OK, TC, and other "interested" parties (P&W, Hamilton Standard, etc.). We are currently in discussions to find a designated observer to represent us in the analysis, one that TSB will approve.

In the meantime, I've put together the following slideshow so everyone can play armchair quarterback!

When viewing, please keep in mind that these are photos I have selected because I think they look "suspicious", or may be relevent. We have plenty more photos, as well as lots of Hi8 video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-_dJY_1upo

I will be formulating a letter in the next few days which I will send to the various powers that be, outlining what we expect to happen ... I will be forwarding said letter to MPs, etc., asking that they support our demands. I will copy the letter here, so that those of you who agree, may do the same.

Again, thanks to those of you who have donated funds, send pm's and emails, phone calls, etc.

This has been one helluva group effort, and every added voice makes us stronger.

If you haven't already signed our petition, now would be a great time!

http://www.petitiononline.com/cgaqw/petition.html

JL · Post by JL » Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:16 pm

Or even better get a picture of him from the TV interviews and have the prop up his ass when you mount it as a memorial.

Nice to see that everyone is conducting themselves in a professional manner...

Widow · Post by **Widow** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 4:22 pm

Cat has met me and my kids, and has a very good idea of the frustration I/the families have felt. I think he actually liked us, and "feels our pain". While I do not hold Mr. Yearwood personally responsible for the failures of the TSB, I did feel (as did many, many viewers) that he did not come off very well on the W-Five interview ... After all,

Even if there was an engine malfunction, it doesn't make the aircraft uncontrollable. It shouldn't cause the accident...Historically, engine failures don't cause accidents like this.

I dunno, but exactly what does that mean? That fatal accidents only happen as a result of weather or pilot error?

Please excuse Cat's "lack of professionalism" in this case. He is expressing the emotional reaction of a lot of people ...

JL · Post by JL » Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:51 pm

His statement could be interpreted as another way of saying that perennial safety statement that no single event results in an accident for a complex system such as aviation.

Widow · Post by **Widow** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 8:32 pm

Then they should have investigated to find out what the events were that led up to the accident and/or it's fatal nature.

I will never excuse the failure of the official agencies ... TSB/TCCA/RCMP/WorkSafe BC or Ministry of Labour/Coroner ... for not DOING THIER JOBS and investigating this accident accurately or in a timely manner.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:27 pm

His statement could be interpreted as another way of saying that perennial safety statement that no single event results in an accident for a complex system such as aviation.

JL, please allow me to clarify my statement.

First of all I have been striving to improve safety in aviation for over fifty years and from personal experience have found TCCA to be the greatest impediment of all the different entities to achieving safety.

Public demonstrations of distain for the industry " because we can " from TC officials drive a wedge between the industry and us their client and employer.

I stand by my mount him on the prop statement as my personal opinion, your opinion of my professional manner is also fair game which I will not lose any sleep over.

Widow · Post by **Widow** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:19 pm

Open Letter to All Canadians: Families of Deceased Workers Need Your Help

On the 28th of February, 2005, pilot Arnie Feast and his passengers Dave Stevens, Fabian Bedard, Doug and Trevor Decock died following a survivable floatplane accident. All five men were working, or on their way to work and yet no investigation has ever been done into the Occupational Health and Safety hazards which contributed to these five deaths. There has been no coroner’s inquest. There has been no investigation for cause. An RCMP investigation remains open.
On March 2nd, two days before four Alberta RCMP officers were killed in the line of duty, the body of Dave Stevens was recovered barely five miles from the aircraft base. But it was not until the 28th of July, 2005 that the fuselage (without power section) was recovered at the physical, emotional and financial expense of the families of Arnie, Dave, Fabian, Doug and Trevor. The four missing men were not on board. All seatbelts were unbuckled, although life jackets were all still stowed.

Although there was considerable evidence of engine failure on the retrieved wreckage and amongst the witness reports, which led to the ability to locate the aircraft, the Transportation Safety Board did not take possession of the wreckage, or do more than a cursory examination. They concluded their investigation with a letter to the coroner in September 2005, which left the implication that the accident had been the result of weather and pilot error.

Dissatisfied, the families produced their own report, and insisted the TSB take responsibility for recovering the engine and determining the cause of the accident. Instead they offered $10,000 in May 2006, should the families be successful in their privately financed efforts. This has led to understandably considerable delays.

With more pressure from the families, the TSB sent a new investigator to inspect the wreckage in November 2006. By this time considerable corrosion had set in, and, as expected, the results were inconclusive.

As the families continued their research, they discovered that due to jurisdictional access, Worksafe BC was not authorized to take part in the investigation. Rather, under a joint agreement with the Minister of Labour, Transport Canada Civil Aviation is expected to appoint a Minister’s Observer. Yet no Minister’s Observer was assigned to this case. Instead of immediately investigating the company operating the aircraft, Transport Canada began an Enforcement Action for “Unknown” infractions against the missing pilot. It was not until December 2006 that they sent their own inspectors to examine the wreckage. This resulted in an Enforcement Action being initiated against the Approved Maintenance Organization.

After a very expensive recovery effort failed in March 2007, the families began to appeal to, amongst others, the Federal Ministers of Transportation, Labour, Public Safety and Justice. In late May, a petition was begun addressed to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and demanding a Public Inquiry into the circumstances surrounding this accident. Having been officially endorsed by the United Steelworkers and the BC Federation of Labour, the petition is being signed on-line and on paper editions across the country.

On September 11, 2007, the families were finally successful in recovering the power section of the aircraft, and duly turned it over to the TSB for examination on September 13th.

Although some assurances have been received, the families no longer trust the officials to “do the right thing”. We have written letters to the Director General of Transport Canada Civl Aviation, Merlin Preuss, and the Director of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, Terry Burtch, outlining our expectations. (Copies attached)

With this open letter to All Canadians, we appeal to you to help protect the safety of workers and other members of the travelling public by Printing this letter in your newspapers, copying and sending it to all your MPs, MLAs, and all the contacts in your email address book. Demand a public inquiry into this accident.

Please help protect the future safety of your loved ones. Let us learn from this accident, before another unnecessary death takes place.

Visit http://www.questforjustice.ca for more information, to download a paper copy, or to link to the on-line petition.

Kirsten Stevens, Campbell River BC

Website: http://www.questforjustice.ca
Petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/cgaqw/petition.html

----- Original Message -----
From: Kirsten Stevens
To: Terry Burtch
Cc: Roberta Ellis ; Bill Yearwood ; Roger Collin ; Glenn McKenna
Sent: Sunday, September 16, 2007 2:30 PM
Subject: Engine Recovered: TSB A05P0039

Dear Mr. Burtch;

By now I expect you have heard that the families of Arnie Feast, Doug and Trevor Decock, Fabian Bedard and Dave Stevens have been successful in recovering the engine of the accident aircraft C-GAQW (A05P0039: February 28, 2005). Having delivered the power section and what remains of the blower and accessory section (recovered July 28, 2005) to the TSB office in Richmond on September 13th, 2007, we trust that:

· An experienced investigator knowledgeable in DHC-2 aircraft, P&W R-985 engines, Hamilton Standard propellers and Edo 4580 floats will be assigned;

· You will re-evaluate your decision as stated in your email of August 1st, 2007 and the Occurrence Classification will now be increased to at least a Level 3 (we still believe a Level 1 – Public Inquiry - would be more appropriate) and a full investigation for cause will now proceed;

· Transport Canada Civil Aviation representatives, including Maintenance and Manufacturing and Occupational Health and Safety will be involved in the investigation (email to Director General Merlin Preuss cc'd to you)

· A final report will be made public at the earliest possible date, taking into account all factors as expressed in my email copied to the TSB and dated January 19th, 2007 (copy "Request for Assistance" attached) including, but not limited to;

o Improper maintenance;

o Float guidelines;

o Communications and emergency notification;

o ELT’s;

o Operational/management factors;

o Lack of Transport Canada oversight;

I am attaching for your convenience a map and notations made by a float pilot who was flying the area that day. We hope you will be inclined to use this information in your final analysis.

As you know, since my husband Dave Stevens’ body was found and his autopsy completed on March 7th, 2005 (indicating that he had drowned with no serious injury and despite wearing a Mustang Survival jacket, after suffering extensively from hypothermia) that this was a survivable accident.

We trust that safety recommendations reflective of the issues facing floatplane operators on the West Coast and across Canada will result from your investigations.

We look forward to your prompt response.

Stay Safe,

Kirsten Stevens
492 South McPhedran Road
Campbell River, BC
CANADA V9W 5K5
Home: (250)287-2725

Website: http://www.questforjustice.ca
Petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/cgaqw/petition.html

***Note that this email will be forwarded to the press, Ministers of Parliament and other representatives of the public

----- Original Message -----
From: Kirsten Stevens
To: Merlin Preuss
Cc: Terry Burtch ; Glenn McKenna ; Roger Collin ; Roberta Ellis
Sent: Sunday, September 16, 2007 2:30 PM
Subject: Engine Recovered: TC Docket #AAR2006G097207

Dear Mr. Preuss;

By now I expect you have heard that the families of Arnie Feast, Doug and Trevor Decock, Fabian Bedard and Dave Stevens have been successful in recovering the engine of the accident aircraft C-GAQW (Docket #AAR2006G097207: February 28, 2005). Having delivered the power section and what remains of the blower and accessory section (recovered July 28, 2005) to the TSB office in Richmond on September 13th, 2007, we trust that:

· Transport Canada Civil Aviation representatives of Maintenance and Manufacturing knowledgeable in DHC-2 aircraft, P&W R-985 engines, Hamilton Standard propellers and Edo 4580 floats will be assigned to take part in the investigation;

· Transport Canada Civil Aviation Occupational Health and Safety will finally appoint a Minister’s Observer in respect of the agreement with the Minister of Labour, to ensure that all safety measures were adhered to in compliance with the Canada Labour Code, especially Part II:

o "Duties of Employers: Specific Duties"125 (1)

§ "(c) investigate, record and report in the manner and to the authorities as prescribed all accidents, occupational diseases and other hazardous occurrences known to the employer;"

§ "(k) ensure that the vehicles and mobile equipment used by the employees in the course of their employment meet prescribed standards;"

§ "(o) comply with prescribed standards relating to fire safety and emergency measures;"

· Should it be found that any party’s negligence contributed to this accident and/or the fatal nature of the accident, that such party will be held accountable using both TCCA Enforcement and the involvement of the RCMP further to the Criminal Code of Canada which states

o “everyone who undertakes, or has the authority, to direct how another person does work or performs a task is under a legal duty to take reasonable steps to prevent bodily harm to that person, or any other person, arising from that work or task.”

o Dangerous operation of motor vehicles, vessels and aircraft: 249. (1) Every one commits an offence who operates (c) an aircraft in a manner that is dangerous to the public, having regard to all the circumstances, including the nature and condition of that aircraft or the place or air space in or through which the aircraft is operated;".

In light of the Canada Labour Code and Criminal Code of Canada quoted above, we urge you to consider your own statement that it was “responsibility of the company to decide when the aircraft is missing and take the appropriate action”. The following are known facts:

· My husband Dave Stevens’ body was found and his autopsy completed on March 7th, 2005 indicating that he had drowned with no serious injury and despite wearing a Mustang Survival jacket, after suffering extensively from hypothermia. This was a survivable accident.

· According to the initial report made to the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre, a communications search was initiated at about 11:15 local time (aircraft clock stopped at 10:16), although MJM Air should have been aware the aircraft was missing shortly after 10:30 when it’s destination called to say it had not arrived.

· Said communication search was conducted by telephone only as MJM Air did not have a dispatch radio, contrary to the industry standard for the area.

· Shortly after 12:00 noon, a small scale search was initiated by the Operations Manager when he flew a chartered flight to Johnson Straight and waited for his passengers to finish in the showers before returning sometime after SAR had been contacted at about 14:15.

· Operations Manual 3.4.1 and CARs 723.26 (2) state: "Flight Following for a Type D system is the monitoring of a flight's progress and the notification of appropriate air operator and search-and-rescue authorities if the flight is overdue or missing."

· Canadian Aviation Regulations, Part VII, Standard 723.16, (1)(d) states: “Each aircraft shall be equipped with serviceable and functioning communications equipment that permits the pilot-in-command to communicate with a ground radio station for the purpose of flight following with the air operator. Such a ground station may be operated by the government, the air operator or a private agency.” There was no ground radio station for the purpose of flight following.

· MJM Air Operations Manual Emergency Checklist states that SAR will be contacted within ONE HOUR of an aircraft being identified as overdue (missing).

· A witness heard calls for help three hours after the accident is known to have occurred.

· TP14371 Aeronautical Information Manual, SAR 2.0 Flight Planning, 2.2 Request for Search and Rescue Assistance states: “As soon as information is received that an aircraft is overdue, operators or owners should immediately alert the nearest RCC or any ATS unit, giving all known details. The alerting call should not be delayed until after a small scale private search. Such a delay could deprive those in need of urgent assistance at a time when it is most needed. “

It is clear that MJM Air was not operating in accordance with the Regulations or Standards.

At this time, we further wish to recommend that commercially operated floatplanes (or those being used to transport workers) have a mandatory requirement for an ELT beacon which works underwater; passengers on commercially operated floatplanes (or those being used to transport workers) be required to don their inflatable life jackets prior to boarding, and that such life jackets be equipped with whistles and dye markers/streamers or other means of visually aiding location; equipping said life jackets with Personal Locator Beacons.

We remind you that an Enforcement Action should already be underway further to the Aircraft Inspection Report dated 20 December 2006, and would like to be made aware of the proceedings of this action and if what our rights are with respect to being an “interested party”.

Having recently had the opportunity to review the Maintenance Logs for C-GAQW, we have noted a number of discrepancies with respect to parts and labour which were not noted with the above mentioned inspection report. We trust that with the recovery of the power section, these discrepancies will be duly noted, analyzed and acted upon.

We look forward to your prompt response.

Stay Safe,

Kirsten Stevens
492 South McPhedran Road
Campbell River, BC
CANADA V9W 5K5
Home: (250)287-2725

Website: http://www.questforjustice.ca
Petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/cgaqw/petition.html

***Note that this email will be forwarded to the press and Ministers of Parliament and other representatives of the public

conehead · Post by **conehead** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:16 pm

Kirsten, you are simply awesome!

Widow · Post by **Widow** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:22 pm

Hope they're all shaking in their boots tomorrow morning

snaproll20 · Post by **snaproll20** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:08 am

I still think Kirsten should be nominated for the TC Annual Safety Award.

Anybody feel like helping to launch a campaign to overwhelm TC with nominations?

It would be fun to see them all eating crow at the award ceremony.
It would be hoped that anyone else they might try to give it to would have the good grace to refuse to accept it before Kirsten gets it.

Actually, I am sure Kirsten would insist the award be given to the team who have pushed this issue, but she is definitely the leader.

Justwannafly · Post by **Justwannafly** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 3:01 pm

snaproll20 wrote:I still think Kirsten should be nominated for the TC Annual Safety Award.

Anybody feel like helping to launch a campaign to overwhelm TC with nominations?

I think she would do a GREAT job as a safey inspector