CH149 Cormorant (CH149903) - From the Investigator

Type: CH149 Cormorant (CH149903)
Location: 9 Wing Gander, NL
Date: 10 March 2022

The accident aircraft, call sign “Outcast 903”, with a crew of six, was scheduled for two crew training missions based out of 9 Wing located at Gander International Airport (CYQX), N.L. The first training mission was scheduled in the afternoon and was primarily focused on overland Search and Rescue evolutions for the Flight Engineer Under Training.

At the end of the first training mission, the crew conducted hover work in the vicinity of the intersection of Runway 31 and Runway 21. During the final clockwise hover turn sequence, the pilot flying’s seat unexpectedly descended to its lowest position.The aircraft flight vector immediately reversed from a clockwise rotation to an accelerated counterclockwise left yaw about the aircraft mast. As the aircraft continued to yaw left, the attitude of the aircraft became unstable resulting in an increasing right bank attitude. The aircraft rotated through approximately 400° and as the right rolling moment intensified, the right outboard wheel, the horizontal stabilizer assembly located on the right side of the tail section, and main rotor blades impacted the runway at 15:43 local time. There was no post-crash fire.

The aircraft impact with the ground caused very serious damage. Three of the six occupants sustained minor injuries while two occupants sustained serious injuries.

The investigation is focusing on materiel and human factors.