FAIRCHILD/SWEARINGEN SA-226-TC METROLINER, MONTREAL, QUEBEC, JUNE 18, 1998–Often layers of events come together to create catastrophes. Pilots may handle individual layers successfully, but combined those layers are often insurmountable. Nine passengers and two pilots died after the left wing of a Metroliner failed during an emergency landing at Mirabel/Montreal International Airport (CYMX). The pilots, attempting an emergency landing less than 25 minutes after departure, were unaware a fire was burning in the wheel well and had focused their attention instead on the left engine and flight control difficulties.
Propair Flight 420 departed Dorval/Montreal International Airport (CYUL) at 0700 EDT, on an instrument flight plan, destined for Peterborough, Ontario. During the takeoff run the crew noticed the Metroliner pulled to the left and that considerable right rudder was required to keep the airplane on the runway centerline. ATC cleared the crew to climb to 16,000 ft on departure. Climbing through 12,500 ft, the crew advised ATC of a hydraulic problem and requested to return to Dorval. Dorval’s weather at the time of departure was 600 ft overcast, with three miles visibility in fog and northeast winds at 4 kt. The temperature and dewpoint were both 17 deg C.
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