What happened
On the night of the occurrence, a Bombardier DHC-8-402, registered as C-GGBF and operating as Air Canada Express flight JZA8481, departed from Calgary International Airport for Grande Prairie, Alberta. During the initial takeoff roll, the aircraft experienced a failure of the number 3 tire on the main landing gear. Due to this mechanical issue, the flight was diverted to Edmonton International Airport.
As the aircraft approached Runway 02, emergency response teams from aircraft rescue and firefighting were positioned for the arrival. Upon touchdown at 2030 Mountain Standard Time, the right main landing gear collapsed. The impact caused the right-side propeller blades to shear off, with one blade piercing the cabin wall. The aircraft eventually came to a halt just off the eastern edge of the runway surface. All passengers and crew successfully evacuated the aircraft via the four available exits. There was no fire following the incident, though three passengers sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
Investigators focused on the sequence of events beginning with the tire failure in Calgary and the subsequent structural failure in Edmonton. The investigation examined the mechanical state of the landing gear and the impact of the preceding tire failure on the aircraft's stability during landing.