So far, most of the news has got things wrong. Here is what actually happened.
Transport Safety Board and WorksafeBC each offered $10,000 to aid the recovery effort - provisional on the engine actually being recovered.
The mini-sub company required the estimated cost for two days in advance ($25,000). This did not include the cost of the barge, at an additional $3,500/day. Some of the mini-sub companies' costs were reduced as BCFerries kindly donated ferry passage for the equipment, etc., possibly reducing cost by about $5,000. We also arranged for discounted accomodation at the Coast Discovery Inn and the Heriot Bay Inn, free dock loading from the Campbell River Indian Band and moorage at Heriot Bay, fed them on board, and cooked breakfast for themthe second and third days so we could get started before the restaurant opened.
On the first day, the manned mini-sub remained submerged for about five hours, but was unable to find the engine.
On the second day, (the 2nd anniversary of the crash) the manned mini-sub remained submerged for seven hours (apparently a world record), and did find the engine towards the end of the day. Because the engine is in a crater left by the weight and propulsion of the aircraft's descent, the deep ocean current has nearly covered the engine over with silt, excepting a small portion of the exhaust. As the mini-sub company did not come with any blower/vacuum equipment, he tried to knock the silt a little bit and got caught in the current. He could not find the engine again.
A third day was arranged. The manned min-sub remained submerged about six hours, and once again, could not find the engine.
Now, it isn't like we don't know where the engine is. In fact, this is the same company that retrieved the aircraft wreckage, so they should have known where the engine is. But the mini-sub company came without any kind of tracking device so they never knew where the sub actually was under the surface (they did have this equipment for the exploration of the Queen of the North wreckage). There is no video feed from the sub to the surface, unlike the small ROV operators we have used in the past. We knew where the engine was, but couldn't direct the sub without knowing where it was. They refused to allow us to drop any kind of marker, for concern that the sub would become tangled up.
So, needless to say, extremely disappointing - and a huge expense.
But don't fear - WE ARE NOT GIVING UP!
We will find someone to blow/vacuum the engine, and will not work in future with anyone who is unwilling to use a marker. This should not be a difficult operation.
Downed plane’s engine may be recovered
Moderators: sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, lilfssister, North Shore, I WAS Birddog
To: Kevin Falcon, Minister of Transport
CC: Catherine Bell, MP Van Isle North
Claire Trevena, MLA Van Isle North
Glenn McKenna, Coroner Service
Bill Yearwood, TSB Pacific
Nick Stoss, TSB Director
Dear Mr. Falcon,
You have apparently failed to recognize that my husband, Dave Stevens, was also aboard that aircraft. He was the passenger whose body was found, having survived the crash and drowned, hours later. What happened to my husband was not tragic, I believe it was criminal and there is an ongoing criminal investigation by the RCMP Island District GIS.
Perhaps you have not understood our request either. The Transportation Safety Board's investigation of this accident is ongoing. We are not asking you to have them reopen their investigation, or to re-examine it. Their final "report" is not yet complete. Their own investigator, Bill Kemp of the Western Region, told both the coroner, myself, the RCMP and many other witnesses that we would never know the cause of that crash unless the engine was retrieved. This was after he examined the wreckage in December 2006. Yet the engine remains on the ocean floor. The families have at this time invested a considerable amount of time and money in doing a relatively simiple part of the TSB's job (retreiving the aircraft wreckage, and the finding and attempted retreival of the engine). On the 27th of April, 2006, I sent the following letter to the TSB:
They responded to this by offering us $10,000, provisional upon our recovering the engine ourselves. Due to the restrictive nature of this funding, the families had to work with volunteers/ and or those willing to work with conditional funding. These made it impossible to acheive, after exhausting our own funds to locate the engine and make attempts at recovery with substandard equipment.To Nick Stoss, Director of Investigation, Transportation Safety Board
To Merlin Preuss, Director General, Civil Aviation
Dear Sirs,
I trust that by now you are both in possession of my report, created at the request of the coroner's office, and are well aware of the above mentioned crash and the surviving families extreme disappointment with the Transportation Safety Board's "investigation". After the family members bore the huge emotional and financial burden of finding and recovering the aircraft (sans engine), it seems extraordinary that investigators are not now anxious to bring the engine to the surface. With the terrible state of the air charter service here on the west coast, and the Transport Canada call for a full review, we would like to once again request that TSB take responsibility, as is their mandate, for discovering the cause of the accident, and determining and making recommendations as to the various factors which ultimately resulted in the deaths of five men. We insist that TSB take full responsibility for bringing C-GAQW's engine to the surface in order to determine the initiating events. It would be extremely unfortunate if examination of the engine showed some error on overhaul, which could be affecting other operating aircraft, and the delay in bringing it to light resulted in further tragedies. There are many other issues that should have been addressed by the TSB investigators, including poor oversight by Transport Canada officials, and a lack of regulatory action following the crash. You should note that as the four passengers were all destined for logging camps, the Steelworkers Union has taken great interest in this case and are working to have this case reassigned to the newly appointed special Forestry Coroner, Tom Pawlowski.
I look forward to your response and actions.
Regards,
Kirsten Stevens
At the same time, Transport Canada Maintenance and Manufacturing was examining the Service Difficulty Records of the R-985 engines in response to our concerns. This has since resulted in the Service Difficulty Advisory AV-2007-02 being issued, despite our not knowing that this particular issue was the cause of the engine failure that precipitated the accident.
On the 5th of December, 2006 I sent TSB the attached email. After no response was received, I sent you my email of January 19th.
Because I also sent that email to WorkSafeBC, and recognizing the importance of our demands, they came forward and offered an unconditional $10,000 contribution to the recovery effort. This prompted the families to hire the same firm which had recovered the aircraft, and done the initial examination of the Queen of the North. Unfortunately, they came without some of the essential equipment to the recovery (e.g. underwater tracking for the mini-sub so that they could be directed to the site of the engine), which resulted in them spending three days looking for the engine and never attempting retreival. Had this attempt been done on government contract, it is most likely that the company would have come equipped and some answers would finally be forthcoming. Instead, the families are stuck with a large bill and no resolution.
By this time, you should be in possession of the letter I sent to the Standing Committee on Transportation, Infrastructures and Communities. The circumstances surrounding the deaths of these five men are indicative of what could happen in the air charter/taxi industry under the proposed Safety Management System. While this company had all the paperwork in place which would show a safe operation, they clearly were not operating safely. Our accident could easily be a case study of the systemic problems faced by the air taxi industry. Yet despite our demands, and ongoing supplying of proof to back up our allegations, neither the Coroner nor the TSB have initiated a public inquiry/inquest.
TSB's Occurance Classification Policy states:
Individual occurrences that do not meet the criteria of Class 2 occurrences may be investigated (as Class 3) when:
A) there is significant public expectation that the TSB should independently make findings as to cause(s) and contributing factors; or
B) there is potential for better understanding the latent unsafe conditions contributing to a significant safety issue; or
C) a government representative so requests (pursuant to Section 14(2) of the CTAISB Act); or
D) the Board must do so to meet its obligations or commitments.
There is certainly a significant public expectation for the TSB to make findings, there are certainly latent unsafe conditions which could be better understood. While the policy indicates that only one of these criteria need to be met, the TSB continues to refuse to do an investigation for cause. We once again request your consideration of this matter, and trust that you will assist us to see this investigation to its just conclusion.
Stay safe.
Kirsten Stevens
Former Advocate for Floatplane Safety
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Cat Driver
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widow, it is unacceptable on any level that they would only part with $10,000 to find the engine.
Between Dave Nowzek, Merlin Preuss and the Regional Director General Transport Canada, Pacific Region they squandered at least ten times that amount to protect a few of their own who abused the power of their office.....when I asked for their help in my application for an FTU OC
......I know that is not directly related to this issue, however the money they wasted covering up for their own and bankrupting me would probably pay for buying the sub that is needed to find that engine.
Their priorities are self presevation and to hell with public safety.
. E.
Between Dave Nowzek, Merlin Preuss and the Regional Director General Transport Canada, Pacific Region they squandered at least ten times that amount to protect a few of their own who abused the power of their office.....when I asked for their help in my application for an FTU OC
......I know that is not directly related to this issue, however the money they wasted covering up for their own and bankrupting me would probably pay for buying the sub that is needed to find that engine.
Their priorities are self presevation and to hell with public safety.
. E.
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
The United SteelWorkers/IWA Council, Local 1-2171 has made a $1,000 contribution to the Trust Fund in aid of our continued costs and effort to get a thorough investigation into the unnecessary deaths of Arnie, Doug, Trevor, Fabian and Arnie.
TD Canada Trust
1400 Island Highway
Campbell River, BC
Transit # 9038
Acct #6259768
"Allison Decock In Trust"
TD Canada Trust
1400 Island Highway
Campbell River, BC
Transit # 9038
Acct #6259768
"Allison Decock In Trust"
Former Advocate for Floatplane Safety
Does anyone else think that the provincial Minister of Transport ought to step up and demand the TSB do a full investigation? Am I out in left field? My MLA seems to agree with me, and has written both to Falcon and the BC Minister of Public Safety.----- Original Message -----
From: "Transportation, Minister TRAN:EX" <Minister>
To: <kis>
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 4:05 PM
Subject: 154699 - Transportation Safety Board Investigation
Dear Kirsten:
Thank you for your e-mail of March 7, 2007, further to your previous correspondence about a Transportation Safety Board (TSB) investigation into the crash of a small airplane. I'm very sorry to learn your husband was one of the people who lost their lives in that disaster.
That incident represents a terrible loss for all the families involved, and I can appreciate your continued interest in writing to me to try to help in determining the cause of this incident. I still think, however, that the TSB is in the best position to decide how this investigation should be handled, and I don't believe it's appropriate for me to question the board's approach. I also note your advice that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are conducting a criminal investigation into this incident.
Again, I wish you and the rest of the families all the best, both for the future and for the duration of these investigations. Thank you for taking the time to write.
Best regards,
Kevin Falcon
Minister
Copy to: The Honourable Lawrence Cannon
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
April 20, 2007
To: Minister Falcon, Ministry of Transportation
Minister Les, Ministry of Public Safety
Dear Minister Falcon,
I would like to request your assistance in resolving questions about a float plane crash near Campbell River two years ago.
I know that you are aware of the tragedy on 28th February 2005 when an MJM Air taxi flight crashed near Campbell River, in Sutil Channel.
Five men died when the MJM air taxi crashed on 28th February 2005, in Sutil Channel off Quadra Island. Only one body has ever been recovered. There are still many unanswered questions about the cause of the crash and, for the families, no knowledge about what happened to their loved
ones.
The RCMP is unable to close the case and no inquest can take place.
The fuselage of the plane has been recovered but the engine has still not been retrieved. The location of the engine has been mapped but there has been no success in bringing it out of Sutil Channel.
I would ask of you two things. One is as Ministers to request of the Transportation Safety Board a thorough investigation of this case, including the retrieval of the engine.
Secondly I would ask that you meet with the families and hear from them their desperate need for some form of resolution and for many answers.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Clair Trevena
MLA, North Island
Former Advocate for Floatplane Safety
Hey look another spout off from one of the clan. Just sh!t from the usual source.Cat Driver wrote:widow, it is unacceptable on any level that they would only part with $10,000 to find the engine.
Between Dave Nowzek, Merlin Preuss and the Regional Director General Transport Canada, Pacific Region they squandered at least ten times that amount to protect a few of their own who abused the power of their office.....when I asked for their help in my application for an FTU OC
Their priorities are self presevation and to hell with public safety.
. E.
