Occurrence
On 14 January 2025, an Air Inuit De Havilland DHC-8-314 aircraft was conducting a flight from La Grande Rivière Airport (CYGL), Quebec, to Montréal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (CYUL), Quebec. The aircraft carried 6 passengers and 3 crew members. Approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes into the flight, while in cruise, the left engine shut down due to fuel exhaustion. The flight crew declared an emergency with air traffic control and diverted to Chibougamau/Chapais Airport (CYMT), Quebec, where the aircraft landed without incident.
Investigation Findings
The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) investigation determined that the aircraft had been in maintenance for several months after sustaining damage to the fuselage and nose landing gear during a towing event. The flight in question was the first after maintenance, and the flight crew was unaware of the remaining fuel quantity from the preceding flight.
The fuel quantity indicator on the nacelle’s refuelling panel was seized and displayed an incorrect reading, leading to insufficient fuel for the flight. Before departure, the cockpit fuel quantity indicator showed a small amount of fuel, but that indicator had been identified as defective and its repair was deferred under the aircraft’s minimum equipment list (MEL). The MEL allowed the use of the nacelle repeater or the magnetic fuel quantity indicator for verification. The nacelle indicator showed enough fuel, but it was faulty.
Analysis of flight recorder data confirmed that the cockpit indicator was correct and that additional fuel was required in the affected tank. The MEL procedure of comparing the nacelle indicator with the cockpit indicator was found to be prone to errors in determining fuel quantity.
Safety Actions
On 10 June 2025, the TSB published Air Transportation Safety Advisory Letter A25Q0007-D1-A1 to enable stakeholders to implement appropriate safety measures promptly.
Next Steps
The investigation is ongoing, currently in the report production phase. The TSB’s internal review process of the initial report is underway, preceding the confidential draft report. A final report will be published at the conclusion of the investigation.