Updated in March 2023 : This investigation is in the report phase.
Loss of control in flight
Cessna 560
Chartright Air Inc.
Cayuga, Ontario
The occurrence
On , a Chartright Air Inc. Cessna 560 was conducting a flight from Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International Airport (CYYZ), Ontario, to Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE), Florida, U.S., with 2 crew members and 3 passengers on board.
While the aircraft was flying over Canadian territory, the left engine cowlings detached, resulting in loss of control. After a significant loss of altitude, the flight crew regained control, declared an emergency, and diverted to Buffalo/Niagara International Airport (KBUF), New York, U.S. The 2 pilots and 1 of the passengers sustained minor injuries.
The remaining portion of the lower cowling fell from the aircraft after landing. Sections from the other cowling were missing from the aircraft and have not been located. The aircraft received damage to sections of the aft fuselage and the horizontal stabilizer.
The TSB is investigating.
Investigation information
A23O0008
Loss of control in flight
Cessna 560
Chartright Air Inc.
Cayuga, Ontario
Investigator-in-charge
Sébastien Lachapelle is a regional senior investigator with the Ontario region of the Air Investigations Branch. He joined the TSB in 2020.
Before joining the TSB, Mr. Lachapelle worked for various aircraft manufacturers and maintenance organizations where he occupied positions from aircraft final assembly line inspector to manager, quality assurance and regulatory compliance, including aircraft systems functional test agent and internal auditor. He also worked as an aircraft maintenance engineer.
Starting in 2007, he worked at Transport Canada as a civil aviation safety inspector and as an enforcement investigator. More recently, he worked as a technical team lead, Airworthiness.
Mr. Lachapelle holds an aircraft maintenance engineer licence from Transport Canada.
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Class of investigation
This is a class 3 investigation. These investigations analyze a small number of safety issues, and may result in recommendations. Class 3 investigations are generally completed within 450 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.
TSB investigation process
There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- 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.
- 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.