Quebec-Ancienne Lorette Airport Accident: Right Engine Fire and Crash (C-FQBL)

Incident Overview and Immediate Sequence of Events The aircraft departed Quebec-Ancienne Lorette Airport with Montreal-Dorval Airport as its destination. Shortly after liftoff, the right engine caught fire. The captain contacted air traffic control, declared an emergency, and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. During a right turn, the aircraft lost altitude, struck the ground, and crashed in flames approximately 1,300 meters short of the runway. The accident resulted in the deaths of 17 occupants and serious injuries to seven passengers. ## Official Findings and Probable Cause The investigation determined that, during initial climb, the low-pressure impeller of the right (No. 2) engine burst, causing the forward part of the engine to separate. Engine debris damaged the electronic gear selection circuitry, preventing the landing gear from being raised. The exposed engine and lower cowl, along with the deployed gear, increased drag. In this configuration, the aircraft was unable to outclimb obstacles straight ahead or maintain altitude during the right-hand turn. Engine separation and passenger movement shifted the center of gravity beyond its aft limit. Airspeed then decreased until the aircraft struck the ground at or below the minimum control speed (Vmc). The investigation found that the low-pressure impeller burst because of fatigue cracks that had not been detected by the technicians responsible for the aircraft's maintenance.