BL-28 Bellanca Scout - Epiloque

The accident flight was part of the Air Cadet Gliding Program in Brandon, MB and in support of 2022 Cadet Training Centre – Brandon. The Bellanca Scout aircraft is used to tow gliders to altitude where the glider would release from the tow plane and conduct their training mission.

After measuring out and inspecting the proposed glider operations area on the South Infield of the Brandon Municipal Airport, the pilot and one passenger launched from Runway 26, flew a standard circuit and lined up for landing on the planned Tow Plane Landing Strip on the infield. Shortly after landing the aircraft encountered a significant amount of standing water. The hydrodynamic forces on the forward landing gear acted similar to excessive braking, causing the aircraft to pitch forward. The propeller made contact with the ground and the aircraft continued to pitch forward, passing vertical and coming to rest upside down on the upper wing surface and the tip of the vertical tail section.

The aircraft sustained very serious damage. The pilot and passenger were not injured.

The investigation did not reveal any evidence of technical issues with the aircraft and focused on human factors. Due to an inadequate inspection of the proposed operational area, and relative obscurity of the visual cues that may have indicated the potential water hazard, the pilot was unaware of the existence of the water, and its depth, prior to landing. Given the speed on landing, combined with the hydrodynamic forces of the water acting on the forward landing gear, once contact with the water was made the roll-over became inevitable. The preventive measures recommended include modifications to the published inspection procedures and criteria as well as initial and routine training on recognition of visual cues that may indicate potential hazards for all personnel within the Cadet Training Program.

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