What happened
During a night rating and type-check training flight, a Cessna 150M operated by the Shearwater Flying Club entered a fatal spin near Shearwater, Nova Scotia. The flight, which included an instructor and a student pilot, was performing intentional spin exercises. Radar data indicated that the aircraft first experienced a vertical descent from 3,600 feet above sea level, which the crew successfully recovered from. However, at approximately 19:21, the aircraft slowed, turned sharply to the left, and entered a second vertical descent at a rate of 6,000 feet per minute. The aircraft lost radar contact at 1,400 feet above sea level and impacted the ground in a downward spiral. The crash resulted in two fatalities.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical condition of the aircraft, the flight parameters, and the training procedures used by the club. Investigators found that the aircraft's flight controls were functional and that the weight and balance were within limits. No mechanical failures, such as a jammed rudder or engine issues, were identified that would have prevented a recovery. Post-mortem examinations also ruled out physiological impairments in the pilots.
Investigators noted that the club's common training reference for the Cessna 150 did not contain the most recent manufacturer recommendations regarding spin entry altitudes. While the club's practice of entering spins at 4,000 feet above sea level was common, this altitude was below the minimum recovery altitude recommended by the manufacturer's supplemental guidance and the Pilot's Operating Handbook for newer models. Furthermore, it was determined that Transport Canada's oversight had not ensured the club was adhering to these specific manufacturer recommendations.
Findings
- The aircraft entered a spin from which the crew could not recover for undetermined reasons.
- The spin entry altitude was below the minimum recommended by both the manufacturer and Transport Canada.
- The training materials commonly used by the club lacked current information regarding safe spin entry and recovery altitudes.
- There was an inconsistency in how different instructors at the club approached spin entry altitudes.
- Transport Canada's safety oversight did not ensure the club was following the specific altitude recommendations found in the manufacturer's documentation.
Safety action
Following the accident, the Shearwater Flying Club increased its minimum spin recovery altitude to 4,000 feet above ground level for all approved aircraft. Additionally, the TSB issued a Safety Advisory to Transport Canada regarding the need for consistent application of minimum recovery altitudes for Cessna spin-approved aircraft.