CH146495 Griffon
12 January 1999
Valcartier QC
The crew was conducting a VFR proficiency flight in
the Valcartier training area. The aircraft departed
the ramp area and was positioned for an approach to
the Valcartier tactical strip. As the aircraft approached
the ground, the rotorwash caused a white-out (snowball)
condition due to the re-circulation of the surface snow.
The crew lost visual reference with the ground and drifted
into the trees on the edge of the landing strip. Upon
hearing the sound of rotors contacting trees, the Aircraft
Captain (AC) lowered collective and landed the helicopter.
The aircraft sustained D Category damage.
For the First Officer (FO) and the Flight Engineer
(FE), it was the first flight after several weeks leave
(Christmas break) and neither had experience with landing
in snow conditions. The AC elected to let the inexperienced
FO fly the first approach without benefit of a pre-flight
briefing on or demonstration of the proper technique
for landing in obscuring phenomena. This clearly indicated
a lack in mission planning on the part of the AC and
a break down of effective Crew Resource Management (CRM)
amongst the crew.
All three members of the crew had received CRM training
in the 18 months previous to the occurrence yet none
of these techniques were effectively employed. The investigation
revealed that the CRM program is in need of review with
regard to course content and recurrence requirements.
CAS has directed the Comd 1 CAD to conduct an evaluation
and validation of the CRM concept, training standards
and training program to ensure the operational requirements
of all air force communities are met.
As an immediate result of this occurrence the unit
conducted a review of the techniques applicable to flight
in obscuring phenomena. Squadron aircrew participated
in a formal one day CRM lecture given the second week
of February 1999 and recurrent training was conducted
in February 2000. The Commander 1 Wing is implementing
a program to ensure that all 1 Wing aircrew are given
additional training in CRM and risk management.
During the course of the investigation it was discovered
that some of the crew had self-medicated with common
cold remedies. Although difficult to quantify, the drugs
that were detected in the crew could have adversely
affected their reactions in the cockpit. In addition,
a non-flight surgeon qualified civilian physician on
contract to the base prescribed one of the crew a drug
that was not recommended for aircrew use.
The unit Flight Surgeon and Base Flight Safety Officer
conducted a review of the rules regarding self-medication
during a flight safety meeting with the whole squadron.
CAS has tasked 1 CAD to review the distribution and
number of qualified flight surgeons in Valcartier as
well as review the procedures which civilian doctors
follow when treating aircrew.
This is not a new occurrence, simply new individuals
repeating a previous event. This was an expensive reminder
of the need to properly brief and demonstrate the sequences
to be executed in a planned training flight.
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