What happened
On 14 August 2014, an Air Tractor AT-802A equipped with amphibious floats was participating in wild fire fighting operations near Chantslar Lake, British Columbia. The aircraft, registered as C-GXNX, was flying in a formation of four identical aircraft models. During a touch-and-go procedure intended to collect water, C-GXNX was positioned second in the formation. Immediately following lift-off, the aircraft experienced a control malfunction and impacted the surface of the lake. The impact caused the aircraft to separate from its floats; however, the airframe remained upright before eventually sinking.
At the time of the accident, the pilot was equipped with a helmet, a 4-point safety harness, and a personal flotation device. The pilot sustained minor injuries, was able to exit the aircraft independently, and successfully inflated the flotation device.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight conditions and the mechanical state of the aircraft during the low-altitude maneuver. Investigators examined the aircraft's weight and speed profiles during the takeoff phase of the touch-and-go operation to determine why the control issue occurred.