The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 19 October 2018.
In-flight electrical arcing
Porter Airlines Inc.
Bombardier DHC-8-402, C-GLQG
Fredericton, New Brunswick, 45 nm SW
The occurrence
On , a Bombardier DHC-8-400 aircraft operated by Porter Airlines, was conducting a flight from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Montreal, Quebec with 72 passengers and 4 crew members on board. At about 45 nautical miles southwest of the Fredericton International Airport, New Brunswick, passengers alerted the cabin crew of a burning odour and sparks emanating from behind an overhead bin. The crew informed the pilots and inspected the overhead bin area. The odour began to dissipate, and no further sign of fire was apparent. Still, the pilots declared a MAYDAY and initiated a diversion to the Fredericton Airport. The crew conducted a rapid deplaning immediately after landing. No injuries were reported and passengers were transported to the terminal. The TSB is investigating.
Media materials
News release
Investigation report: March 2018 in-flight electrical arcing near Fredericton Airport, New Brunswick
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB deploys a team of investigators the Fredericton Airport, New Brunswick, following an aircraft incident
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 10 March 2018 - The Transportation Safety Board is deploying a team of investigators following a diversion to the Fredericton Airport, New Brunswick, due to an electrical fire aboard an aircraft operated by Porter Airlines. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A18A0018
In-flight electrical arcing
Porter Airlines Inc.
Bombardier DHC-8-402, C-GLQG
Fredericton, New Brunswick, 45 nm SW
Investigator-in-charge
Murray Hamm joined the TSB in 2010 as a Regional Senior Technical Investigator in the Air Investigations Branch at the Dartmouth office, Nova Scotia. Prior to that, he worked as a contracted employee for the 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School (3 CFFTS) at the Southport Aerospace Centre located near Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, and held the position of Fixed Wing Chief Engineer.
Mr. Hamm has more than 30 years of aviation experience and worked for several fixed wing and rotary wing operations as a licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. He holds both an M1 and M2 license, and has also enjoyed recreational flying as a private pilot, and as a glider student pilot.
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Class of investigation
This is a class 4 investigation. These investigations are limited in scope, and while the final reports may contain limited analysis, they do not contain findings or recommendations. Class 4 investigations are generally completed within 220 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.