Petawawa helicopter crash investigation looking at 3 factors
CH-147F Chinook helicopter crashed into water in June, killing 2
Investigators are focusing on human, technical, and environmental factors more than two months after the fatal military helicopter crash near Garrison Petawawa in eastern Ontario.
A preliminary report into the June 20 CH-147F Chinook helicopter crash was shared Tuesday by the Department of National Defence.
It said the heavy-lift helicopter Hammer 31, used to transport troops and equipment, was flying a two-hour nighttime training mission with four people on board.
"Shortly after departure the helicopter turned left and, once cleared of the tree line on the west shore of the (Ottawa River), descended to tactical altitudes as per the mission profile," it said.
"While descending and still established in the left turn, the helicopter impacted the water with high energy at 00:10 local time,"
The two pilots, Capt. David Domagala, 32, and Capt. Marc Larouche, 53, were killed in the crash.
The preliminary report said the helicopter was destroyed and that the two flight engineers on board were able to get out. They sustained minor injuries.
Canada operates a modern version of the Chinook helicopter, which is manufactured by U.S. defence giant Boeing. The former Conservative government purchased 15 of them.
The CH-147F is equipped with larger fuel tanks and state-of-the-art sensors to allow the aircraft to operate effectively in very low light or reduced visibility conditions, the Royal Canadian Air Force website says.
What environmental conditions may have influenced the crash remain unknown, but flying close to the ground at night is a hazardous, but essential part of helicopter operational training.
Full details are still under investigation, according to the department. Experts told CBC in the days after the crash a final report could take about a year.
The day after the crash, the senior leadership of the air force expressed confidence in its Chinook helicopter fleet.
Maj. Gen. Sylvain Menard, in a statement, said the CH-147Fs are considered excellent aircraft.
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With files from Murray Brewster
