Bird blamed for deadly crash of Snowbird

An investigation into the crash of a Snowbirds aircraft last year that killed one person has concluded the plane lost power after a small bird was sucked into the engine.

The incident on May 17, 2020, in Kamloops, B.C., claimed the life of Capt. Jenn Casey and injured Capt. Richard MacDougall.

“The investigation found that ingestion of a single, small bird into the engine of the aircraft following takeoff resulted in a compressor stall and a loss of thrust,” the Canadian Forces noted. “Upon loss of power, the pilot initiated a climb and then a turn towards the airport. During this, the aircraft, a CT-114, entered into an aerodynamic stall and the pilot gave the order to abandon the aircraft.”

The investigation found that Casey and MacDougall ejected from the aircraft at low altitude and in conditions that were outside “safe ejection seat operation parameters,” so the parachutes did not have the required time to function as designed.

Recommendations in the report identified the need to conduct additional training for CT-114 aircrew to better prepare them for an engine failure after take-off in a low-level environment, clarify the command to “eject,” clarify how aircrew should prioritize an ejection-scenario near or over a populated area, and research potential options to stabilize the ejection seat from any tendency to pitch, roll or yaw.

“Snowbird 11's power loss could not have come at a worse time — low altitude, low airspeed, proximity to another aircraft, and in the vicinity of a built-up area,” Col. John Alexander, director of flight safety for the Royal Canadian Air Force, noted in a statement.

A project to modernize the Tutor aircraft was recently approved.