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Safety board to probe forced Buffalo Airways landing outside Hay River

Brendan Burke
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0605cra!_pix Emergency personnel responded to a May 3 crash of an airplane owned by Buffalo Airways. The plane went down on the Hay River Reserve. Emergency responders could get partway to the crash site on a largely-unused road heading north from a small bridge over Sandy Creek on Highway 5, about six kilometres from the junction with Highway 2. At the end of the one-kilometrre road, they had to use ATVs to travel another two kilometres to the crash site. May 3, 2019 Hay River Reserve Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to probe the forced landing of a Buffalo Airways aircraft, downed due to engine failure outside of Hay River late last week.

Two crew members aboard a DC-3 plane bound for Yellowknife were unharmed after an engine failure forced the plane, which departed from the Hay River/Merlyn Carter Airport, to crash land on the Hay River Reserve just before 8 a.m. on May 3.

The plane was attempting to turn around to the airport when it went down approximately nine kilometres southeast of the airport, said Alexandre Fournier, a safety board spokesperson.

RCMP were dispatched on ATVs to the site of the crash landing to retrieve the crew members from the area, according to Ross Potter, director of protective services in Hay River.

An ambulance was on standby, about two kilometres from the crash site, awaiting the crew members. While the crew were uninjured, paramedics were on hand to treat them for shock, if need be, said Ross.

"We still want to check them out, make sure they’re alright and warm and that kind of stuff," he said.

Emergency personnel – including Canadian Ranger Dwayne Klause, left, and Ross Potter, the fire chief and director of protective services with the Town of Hay River – responded to a May 3 crash of an airplane owned by Buffalo Airways. The plane went down on the Hay River Reserve. Emergency responders could get partway to the crash site on a largely-unused road heading north from a small bridge over Sandy Creek on Highway 5, about six kilometres from the junction with Highway 2. At the end of the one-kilometrre road, emergency personnel had to use ATVs to travel another two kilometres to the crash site. Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

The TSB made the announcement on Monday it was sending investigators to the crash site.

Investigators will be sent to the site to “examine the wreckage, the aircraft,” and to meet with the parties involved – including the pilot and Buffalo Airways, said Fournier.

The board will also be seeking maintenance records and other information, he added.

"It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability," stated a news release issued by the TSB.

Emergency personnel responded to a May 3 crash of an airplane owned by Buffalo Airways. The plane went down on the Hay River Reserve. Emergency responders could get partway to the crash site on a largely-unused road heading north from a small bridge over Sandy Creek on Highway 5, about six kilometres from the junction with Highway 2. At the end of the one-kilometrre road, they had to use ATVs to travel another two kilometres to the crash site. Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Buffalo Airways declined a request for comment on Friday.

A similar Buffalo Airways crash in 2013 prompted sharp criticism of the airline’s safety protocols from the federal safety board.

A DC-3C plane, carrying 21 passengers and three crew members, crashed while attempting an emergency landing shortly after departing the Yellowknife Airport en route to Hay River.

The engine also failed. Following an investigation, the TSB found the aircraft was flying 1,235 lbs (560 kg) over the maximum certified take-off weight.

A subsequent report from the oversight board found the airline regularly failed to calculate weight, among other safety shortcomings.

Buffalo Airways made changes following the report, including revamping its operations manual and hiring a consultant to ensure safety regulations were being complied with.

– with files from Paul Bickford