Cessna
172 C-GVWT
26
July 2000
Bromont, QC
On the morning of 26 July 2000, a solo
Air Cadet undergoing private pilot training under the
Air Cadet flying scholarship program, departed St-Jean
PQ for Bromont PQ in a Cessna 172M. The purposes of
the flight were to acquire more solo cross country time
in order to meet the 5 hours requirement for the private
pilot licence and to practice touch and go landings
away from the student's base at St-Jean, as that airport
was also host to the Air Cadet League's regional glider
school and the circuit was very busy.
The aircraft was established for a touch and go with
a slight crosswind from the left (45 degrees at 5 to
10 Kts). On touchdown, flaps were selected up and full
power was applied. The aircraft began to move left,
then right of the centre-line. The student pilot elected
to continue the take off roll, went around the circuit
and attempted another touch and go. Again, after touchdown,
the aircraft moved left and right of the centre-line.
The take off roll was continued and a decision was made
to carry out one more circuit to a touch and go, with
the provision that if the aircraft exhibited the same
tendency to cross the centre-line the student pilot
would stop and phone his home base in St-Jean to report
the aircraft's directional problems to the flying school
staff.
The investigation revealed that the accident was most
likely caused by the student not adequately compensating
for the crosswind and the engine torque on take-off.
This was most likely caused by a combination of inexperience
and fatigue. Also, the student's lack of experience,
combined with his overconfidence, led him to attempt
to troubleshoot a perceived mechanical problem at a
critical moment in the flight. It was therefore recommended
that All Regional Cadet Air Operations Officers ensure
that the Officers supervising the Cadets on flying scholarship
maintain an environment conducive to learning by more
closely monitoring their cadet's rest and nutrition.
They should also keep a closer watch on the cadets performance
and attitude. Any observation should be immediately
brought to the attention of the school's Chief Flying
Instructor.
The investigation also revealed that the flying school
owners were unaware of the requirement for DFS to investigate
this accident. Since the Cadet Flying Scholarship is
subsidized by DND, the aircraft are considered to be
Military Conveyances and accidents are subject to DFS
investigation under Article 18 (3)(4) of the Canadian
Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board
Act. It was therefore recommended that all Regional
Cadet Air Operations Officers should ensure that the
Supervising Officers of Flying Scholarship Cadets are
aware of the requirement to follow the articles of the
A-GA-135-001/AA001 in case of an accident. These officers
should be made familiar with the publication and should
more closely liaise with the school Chief Flying Instructor
on matters of Flight Safety.
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