Accident Overview
At 1503 Central Standard Time, a Construcciones Aeronauticas SA (CASA) C-212-CC40, registration C-FDKM (serial number 196), operated by Fugro Aviation Canada Ltd., departed from Saskatoon/Diefenbaker International Airport, Saskatchewan, under visual flight rules. The aircraft was conducting a geophysical survey flight to the east of Saskatoon, with two pilots and a survey equipment operator on board.
During the flight, at approximately 1814, the right engine lost power. The crew shut down the engine, performed the appropriate checklist procedures, and initiated an approach for Runway 27. While on final approach, approximately 3.5 nautical miles from the runway, the left engine lost power. The crew executed a forced landing adjacent to Wanuskewin Road in Saskatoon. The aircraft struck a concrete roadway noise abatement wall and was destroyed. The survey equipment operator sustained fatal injuries, the first officer sustained serious injuries, and the captain sustained minor injuries. No ELT signal was received.
Engine Power Loss and Contributing Factors
According to the official investigation, the right engine lost power because the intermediate spur gear on the torque sensor shaft failed, resulting in a loss of drive to the high-pressure engine-driven pump, leading to fuel starvation and immediate engine stoppage.
The left engine's No. 2 ejector pump's ability to deliver fuel to the collector tank was compromised by foreign object debris (FOD) in the ejector pump nozzle. As the fuel level in the left collector tank decreased, the left fuel level warning light likely illuminated but was not noticed by the crew. The pilots did not execute the fuel level warning checklist because they did not perceive the illumination of the warning light. Consequently, the fuel crossfeed valve remained closed, and fuel was supplied only from the left wing to the left engine. The left engine flamed out due to depletion of the collector tank and fuel starvation, leading to the forced landing and impact with the noise abatement wall.
Risk Findings
The investigation identified several risk factors. In single-engine uncoordinated flight, depending on fuel level and bank angle, the ejector pump system may not have the delivery capacity to prevent collector tank depletion when the No. 1 ejector inlet is exposed, especially with the engine at full power. The master caution annunciator does not flash, which could result in the crew not noticing an annunciator panel segment illumination and failing to take corrective action. The absence of cockpit voice and flight data recordings may preclude the identification and communication of safety deficiencies. Additionally, because the ejector pump inlets are unscreened, FOD in the fuel tank may become lodged in an ejector nozzle, reducing fuel delivery to the collector tank.
Other Findings
The crew's decision not to recover or jettison the birds immediately resulted in extended operation with minimal climb performance. The composition and origin of the FOD, as well as how or when it entered the fuel tank, could not be determined. The SkyTrac system provided timely position information that would have assisted search and rescue personnel if needed. Saskatoon police, firefighters, and paramedics responded rapidly and provided effective assistance to the survivors.