News release

In-flight detachment of left-engine cowl doors led to loss of control and emergency landing

Richmond Hill, Ontario, 27 March 2024 — Today, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its investigation report (A23O0008) into the 2023 loss of control and emergency landing of a Chartright Air Inc. aircraft in New York State (NY), United States.

On January 27, 2023, a Cessna 560 aircraft, departed from Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Ontario, with two flight crew and three passengers on board. Shortly after takeoff, the cowl doors partially detached from the left-engine’s nacelle, which serves as a protective casing for the engine, leading to an immediate loss of control and rapid descent. Once the flight crew regained control of the aircraft, they declared an emergency, and diverted to Buffalo Niagara International Airport, NY, where they landed without further incident. While they were taxiing, a remaining piece of the lower cowl door fell from the aircraft.

The investigation revealed that, during the most recent maintenance work performed on the aircraft, six consecutive fasteners were left unsecured at the forward inboard edge of the lower cowl door. Because this location is not typically checked during pre-flight walkarounds and no specific guidance was provided to company flight crews, the unsecured fasteners went undetected despite their multiple walkaround inspections before the flight.

Additionally, the investigation determined that the company’s maintenance and flight operations personnel did not have access to the newest information on the recently discovered hazards associated with engine cowl doors on Cessna 560 aircraft. If operators do not incorporate guidance issued by civil aviation authorities and aircraft manufacturers into their company manuals and procedures, there is a risk that personnel will not be aware of critical flight safety information.

Following the occurrence, Chartright Air Inc. grounded its Cessna 560 fleet and inspected the engine cowl doors on each aircraft for damage and proper installation. The occurrence and the inspection resulted in a series of internal safety actions, including issuing a directive to all maintenance staff, updating the pre-flight inspection checklist for fastener verification, and providing training on secure installation and integrity checks of engine cowl doors.

See the investigation page for more information.