CALGARY — The cause of the fiery crash of a CF-18 fighter jet in Lethbridge remains a mystery after a Department of National Defence investigation has yet to determine what caused the accident.
During an air show practice on July 23, the jet flown by Capt. Brian Bews lost thrust in its right engine while doing a manoeuvre about 90 metres above the ground.
The plane didn’t respond and he was forced to eject moments before the CF-18 crashed and exploded into a massive fireball.
Bews was hospitalized and suffered three compressed vertebrae.
“Field examination of the engines did not reveal any anomalies. Both engines were sent to the Quality Engineering and Test Establishment for a detailed inspection,” reads the report from the Directorate of Flight Safety.
Bews told reporters in August that he knew instantly something was wrong.
“It became immediately obvious to me that the jet was not acting like it normally acts,” Bews recalled. “I was not in control of the aircraft anymore.”
Bews wrestled with the jet for a few seconds before it looked like it was about to spiral towards the ground.
“I knew where the jet was going and I didn’t want to be there with it, so I knew my only chance of survival was to pull the ejection handle.”
The report said the ejection went smoothly, but there was a problem when Bews landed.
“After landing, the parachute shroud lines became entangled around the pilot’s left leg and the parachute re-inflated before it could be released, causing him to be dragged several hundred metres.”
As a result of the crash, the CF-18 demonstration team cancelled its six scheduled appearances in Canada and two in the United States under orders of the North American Aerospace Defence Command.
“It is unfortunate we will not be able to finish the season,” acting commander Brig.-Gen. Richard Foster said in a statement at the time. “But we simply cannot and will not rush the preparation of another demo pilot.”
The Directorate of Flight Safety continues to look into the crash.
“The investigation will be focusing on the loss of thrust experienced by the right-hand engine, the factors that precluded an in-flight recovery of the aircraft, and CF-18 demonstration pilot training.”
Phogrammetric analysis, which is the process of making maps or scale drawings from photographs, especially aerial photographs, is taking place to determine flight and engine parameters of the plane which could not be recovered from the aircraft.
Modelling and simulation are also being checked to better understand the factors that affected the CF-18’s recover under various conditions.