2 fatalities

1978-05-21: Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso) (CF-NTL) — The Flying Fireman — Snow Lake, Canada

Snow Lake, CanadaFlight

On May 21, 1978, a Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso) (registration CF-NTL) operated by The Flying Fireman was involved in an aviation accident near Snow Lake, Canada in flight. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The right engine experienced momentary fuel starvation resulting from an unbalanced distribution of fuel. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781226631Data APIEditorial standards

A two-person crew perished when their aircraft crashed following an engine failure during a low-altitude firefighting operation.

What happened

During the execution of a firefighting mission, an aircraft was operating at a low altitude when the crew experienced a partial failure of the right engine. This mechanical issue resulted in a loss of altitude that the occupants were unable to recover from. The aircraft subsequently crashed into the ground.

There were two fatalities resulting from the impact, as both the pilot and the crew member on board were killed in the accident.

Findings

Investigations into the crash suggest that the engine malfunction was triggered by a period of fuel starvation. This lack of fuel delivery to the right engine is believed to have been caused by an asymmetric fuel load within the aircraft's tanks.

Probable cause

The right engine experienced momentary fuel starvation resulting from an unbalanced distribution of fuel.