Communiqués

TSB # A02/2004

TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD OF CANADA ISSUES AIR SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STANDARD PASSENGER WEIGHTS ARISING FROM THE INVESTIGATION A04H0001 INTO THE FATAL CRASH OF GEORGIAN EXPRESS FLIGHT 126 ON JANUARY 17, 2004

(Gatineau, Quebec, October 07, 2004) - The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) today is issuing two recommendations concerning the use of standard passenger weights by the Canadian air industry. These recommendations arise from the TSB's ongoing investigation into last January's fatal crash of Georgian Express Flight 126.

On January 17, 2004, Georgian Express Flight 126, a Cessna Caravan, departed Pelee Island, Ontario, en route to Windsor, Ontario, at 4:38 p.m. Shortly after take-off, the aircraft struck the ice-covered surface of Lake Erie. The pilot and all nine passengers were killed.

To date, the TSB investigation has determined that the structure of the aircraft was sound and the aircraft engine was operational and producing power at the time of the flight. It has also determined that the aircraft was overweight by 1270 pounds when it departed Pelee Island.

Standard Passenger Weights

In Canada, aircraft operators commonly rely on standard passenger weights, published in the Aeronautical Information Publication (A.I.P. Canada), to calculate total aircraft weight. Passenger weight is a primary determinant of the total aircraft weight in passenger-carrying operations.

Recent studies have shown that the current values for standard passenger weights are no longer representative of the general population and that actual passenger weights may be routinely underestimated. In the case of Georgian Express Flight 126, the calculated weight for the people on board using standard weight was 1833 pounds; the actual weight of the persons on board with their clothes was 2400 pounds - a difference of 567 pounds. Underestimating the weight of people on board can have a detrimental effect on aircraft performance.

Based on its investigation to date, the Board concludes that the use of actual weights for aircraft carrying nine passengers or fewer would provide a greater margin of safety.

Recommendations

Therefore, the Board recommends that:

• The Department of Transport require that actual passenger weights be used for aircraft involved in commercial or air taxi operations with a capacity of nine passengers or fewer.
  
A04-01

and

• The Department of Transport re-evaluate the standard weights for passengers and carry-on baggage and adjust them for all aircraft to reflect the current realities.
A04-02

The Department of Transport has 90 days to respond to the recommendations.

Should the Board identify additional safety deficiencies in need of urgent attention as its investigation proceeds, it may make further safety recommendations. A final report will be published at the conclusion of its investigation.

The TSB is an independent agency that investigates marine, pipeline, railway and aviation transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.

• Safety Recommendations