Air transportation safety investigation A23P0153

Table of contents

    Loss of power and collision with terrain
    Wilderness Seaplanes Ltd.
    Grumman G-21A, C-GDDJ
    Bella Bella Airport (CBBC), British Columbia

    The occurrence

    On , the Grumman G-21A aircraft, operated by Wilderness Seaplanes Ltd., was conducting a visual flight rules (VFR) flight from Bella Bella Airport, British Columbia (BC), to Port Hardy Airport, BC, with 1 pilot and 4 passengers on board.

    Shortly after takeoff, the left engine surged and lost power, and a few seconds later, the right engine lost power. The pilot transmitted a Mayday call and conducted an emergency landing in a forested area approximately 0.5 nautical miles southeast of the airport.

    All occupants received minor injuries and were able to exit the left cabin door. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The TSB is investigating.

    Investigation information

    Map showing the location of the occurrence

    A23P0153

    Loss of power and collision with terrain
    Wilderness Seaplanes Ltd.
    Grumman G-21A, C-GDDJ
    Bella Bella Airport (CBBC), British Columbia

    Investigator-in-charge

    Image
    Photo of Brandon Dreyer

    Brandon Dreyer joined the Transportation Safety Board of Canada in 2023 as a Senior Regional Investigator of Operations for the Pacific Region, based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He began flying in 1995,accumulating 7,800 hours as a flight instructor, airline pilot, airshow pilot, and unlimited-level aerobatic competition pilot during his career. Mr. Dreyer has flown throughout North America with four different airlines on more than 40 different types of aircraft including the Boeing 727, CRJ-900/200, Q400, DHC8-100/300, and SAAB 340. Mr. Dreyer has a degree in psychology from Trinity Western University and is a published aviation writer.

    Photos

    Image
    Photo of occurrence aircraft

      Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.

    Class of investigation

    This is a class 4 investigation. These investigations are limited in scope, and while the final reports may contain limited analysis, they do not contain findings or recommendations. Class 4 investigations are generally completed within 220 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.

    TSB investigation process

    There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation

    1. Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
    2. Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
    3. Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.

    For more information, see our Investigation process page.

    The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail 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.