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Environmental conditions and “unperceived acceleration” were key factors contributing to the spatial disorientation of the crew of a Canadian military helicopter that crashed into the Ottawa River last year, killing two pilots, a safety investigation report has concluded.
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Capt. David Domagala and Capt. Marc Larouche died when a CH-147F Chinook helicopter crashed near Petawawa during a night training flight on June 20, 2023. Two flight engineers received minor injuries.
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The Royal Canadian Air Force’s Directorate of Flight Safety posted the results of its investigation online on Dec. 2.
The report said the crew on board the Chinook helicopter had been scheduled to conduct two advanced night tests each as part of a Tactical First Officer course, with one student pilot was to perform each two-hour test. The crash occurred during the second test period.
“Shortly after departure, the Instructor Pilot simulated an engine chip emergency, which required the aircraft to return for landing,” the report said. “After the emergency scenario was completed, the crew departed again from Final Approach and Take Off Area 17 to fly to confined area T40. During the turn towards confined area T40, the aircraft started to descend. While descending and still established in the left turn, the helicopter impacted the Ottawa River with high energy.
“The helicopter was destroyed.”
The investigation, the report added, determined that none of the crew members realized the height and/or rate of descent of the aircraft before impact because of “unperceived acceleration and the environmental conditions that night” leading to spatial disorientation.
The report also said the investigation had produced several recommendations, including one mandating the use of “automation Level-3 (Native Mode Digital Automatic Flight Control System)” when flying below 200 feet above water at night.
Additional recommendations were made to improve emergency response preparedness, it added.
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