Air Disasters Season 9 Episode 4 Fatal Focus

On this episode of AIR DISASTERS, we delve into the events surrounding a small, commuter airplane crash in western Ontario, Canada. In May of 2017, a Pilatus PC-12, flying from Toronto to a small airport outside of London, went down, killing all seven people on board.

The crash investigation team needed to work quickly to determine the cause of this fatal accident. It was discovered that the plane had crashed into a field shortly after takeoff due to a catastrophic failure of the aircraft's elevator and trim system. The team found the elevator trim tab - a component of the system that adjusts the angle of the plane's nose - was completely disconnected from the rest of the system. But how did this happen?

The investigation reveals a sequence of systematic errors that led to the horrific crash. A critical component of the maintenance procedure of the Pilatus PC-12 is setting the correct torque for a bolt on the elevator trim system. However, when the maintenance company that serviced this plane failed to use a torque wrench, they unknowingly set the bolt incorrectly. This, in turn, led to the bolt becoming loose over time and eventually separating entirely.

With the bolt failing, the pilots had no control over the aircraft's nose and began to lose altitude rapidly. In a desperate attempt to avoid crashing into a heavily populated area, the pilot circled back to the airport. The pilot was unable to control the plane's speed and altitude, resulting in the fatal crash into the field.

The episode touches on the aftermath and investigations that followed the crash. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada took immediate action to reach out to all Pilatus PC-12 owners, warning them of the risks associated with failing to correctly torque the bolts that hold the elevator trim system together. The company responsible for maintaining this particular plane was also scrutinized for their negligence in failing to adhere to the proper maintenance procedures.

AIR DISASTERS is a show that provides an in-depth look into air disasters, examining the causes and, ultimately, the lessons learned to help prevent them from happening in the future. This installment of the popular series underscores the importance of proper maintenance and the consequences of failing to adhere to specific procedures. Fatal Focus serves as a crucial reminder that the smallest details can make a significant difference in the safety of not just one flight, but thousands of lives.