On February 17, 2025, we noticed a stunning accident, whereby a Delta Connection CRJ-900 (operated by Endeavor Air) crashed whereas touchdown at Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ). The airplane flipped over on touchdown and misplaced a wing, in what can solely be described as a horrifying accident.
The excellent news is that each one 80 individuals onboard survived, which is a testomony to only how far aviation security has come. One of many issues that makes aviation so protected is that we be taught from each accident. Alongside these strains, a preliminary report has simply been printed relating to this accident.
TSB of Canada publishes Delta CRJ-900 accident report
The Transportation Security Board of Canada (TSB) has at this time printed its preliminary report into the Endeavor Air accident. Notice that this report doesn’t present any conclusions, however as an alternative, shares a progress replace and descriptions the details which were gathered thus far. As standard, a remaining report for an accident usually takes months, and even years. The TSB additionally emphasizes that accidents not often stem from a single trigger.
What do we all know in regards to the remaining seconds of the flight? On the time of the accident, winds had been at an angle of 270 levels (the runway was at an angle of 230 levels), at 28 knots, gusting to 35 knots. With that in thoughts, listed here are some plane efficiency particulars:
- 14 seconds earlier than landing, the plane descended by means of 153 ft and wind gusts picked up, so the pilot flying diminished thrust from 64% to 43%
- 4 seconds earlier than landing, when the plane descended by means of 50 ft, the speed of descent elevated from 672 ft per minute to 1,114 ft per minute
- Three seconds earlier than landing, the improved floor proximity warning system (EGPWS) had a “sink fee” alert, indicating a excessive fee of descent, with the plane’s descent fee staying at round 1,100 ft per minute; moreover, the airplane began banking extra to the precise because of winds, with a 4.7 diploma financial institution
- Two seconds earlier than landing, the airplane’s financial institution angle to the precise elevated, to five.9 levels
- Lower than one second earlier than landing, the airplane had an indicated airspeed of 134 knots, a floor pace of 111 knots, a financial institution angle of seven.1 levels to the precise, and a fee of descent of 1,110 ft per minute
The airplane touched down at a financial institution angle of seven.5 levels to the precise, and 3g vertical acceleration, and a fee of descent of roughly 1,098 ft per minute. This touchdown was so tough that the precise principal touchdown gear fractured, the touchdown gear folded into the retracted place, the wing root fractured between the fuselage and the touchdown gear, and the wing indifferent from the fuselage.
It’s fairly wild how far the airplane slid. The preliminary affect was 420 ft previous the runway 23 threshold. The plane got here to a relaxation inverted on runway 15L, roughly 1,800 ft past the thresholds, and about 75 ft to the precise of the runway edge. A big portion of the tail part was discovered on the runway, round 1,680 ft from the edge, and 235 ft from the primary wreckage. The correct wing got here to a relaxation round 215 ft past the primary wreckage.
So, what do we all know in regards to the two pilots?
- The captain had been at Endeavor Air since 2007, and can be a simulator teacher on the airline, having a complete of three,570 flight hours, together with 764 hours on this plane kind; this was his first flight in seven days, as he had in any other case labored as an teacher for 3 days over the previous week
- The primary officer had been at Endeavor Air since January 2024, and had a complete of 1,422 hours, together with 419 hours on this plane kind; this was her second flight of the day, and her final day of a five-day journey
Because the investigation continues, listed here are the 11 issues that the TSB might be centered on:
- Metallurgical examination of the wing construction
- Certification (touchdown gear and wing construction)
- Evacuation / egress procedures
- Flight deck door construction and design
- Touchdown methods, laborious landings, and pilot coaching
- Cabin obstructions and impediments as soon as inverted
- Flight deck secondary egress route
- Organizational and administration components
- Flight attendant coaching
- Coordination in emergencies
- ARFF and emergency medical technician actions after accident
Let’s see what a remaining report reveals
Whereas there are usually a number of components that contribute to accidents, one of many major questions right here is why the airplane had such a steep descent within the seconds earlier than touchdown. Clearly it was gusty, however should you’re not in a position to stabilize an method, that’s when a go round would ordinarily be carried out.
So what brought on such a steep descent, and why wasn’t a go round carried out? These particulars must be revealed in subsequent reviews. After all a few issues stand out in regards to the pilots:
- The captain had been on the airline for 18 years, although it seems like he spent more often than not instructing in simulators, since 3,570 flight hours isn’t quite a bit for a pilot who has been flying for that lengthy
- Conversely, the primary officer was junior, and on the very low finish of the hours wanted to be an airline pilot
The primary officer was the one flying this section, so after all some individuals will instantly say “DEI.” Is it attainable that pilot error brought on this? It’s completely a chance, and expertise issues. Is there any indication that the primary officer failed assessments greater than different pilots, or acquired any form of shortcuts due to her gender? I haven’t seen something suggesting that.
So for now we simply have some extra particulars in regards to the details of the case, however we don’t but have a conclusion…
Backside line
The preliminary accident report has been printed relating to the Endeavor Air CRJ-900 that crashed in Toronto, working on behalf of Delta Connection. This primarily summarizes the essential details of the case, together with that the airplane had an alarming descent fee within the seconds earlier than landing, after which landed whereas banking to the precise.
The mix of the excessive fee of descent and financial institution angle brought on the gear to break down, which in the end brought on the airplane to flip over. Why the airplane had such an unsteady method stays to be seen…
What do you make of the preliminary accident report from the TSB of Canada?
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