CT156106 Harvard II - Epilogue

Report / October 24, 2018 / Project number: CT156106 - D Category

Location: 20NM southwest of CYMJ
Date: 24 October 2018
Status: Investigation Completed

A student pilot from 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School was conducting training on the CT156 Harvard II aircraft as part of the Phase II pilot training course in the NATO Flying Training in Canada program in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. This was the student’s first solo mission to the Moose Jaw training area, located approximately 20 nautical miles south of the airfield.

The training consisted of aerobatic manoeuvres and the student pilot carried out a G awareness exercise prior to initiating a loop as the first manoeuvre. During the pull up into the loop, the student pilot recognized the symptoms of a G induced almost-loss of consciousness and reacted by reducing the flight control back pressure to regain visual acuity. The aircraft was in a near vertical attitude with airspeed decreasing rapidly. An initial attempt at an unusual attitude recovery was carried out, however the roll to the nearest horizon seemed ineffective. The student pilot carried out the Inadvertent Departure from Controlled Flight emergency procedure. The Power Control Lever was reduced to idle and the flight controls were centralized. The aircraft floated for a period of time then adopted a nose low attitude while gaining airspeed. The student pilot recovered the aircraft and returned to base without further incident.

The investigation found that the student had limited training during phase II regarding G forces. It was also found that there is confusion between nose high unusual attitude and a departure from controlled flight condition. The investigation recommends to formalise G training at the beginning of phase II ground training and clarify procedures with regard to the G awareness manoeuvre and departure from controlled flight with the CT156 Harvard II.