PASSENGERS on a plane that crashed in Richmond killing both the North Vancouver pilot and the co-pilot on Oct. 27, 2011 are hoping the federal government takes action on recommendations of the Transportation Safety Board to prevent similar tragedies.
"They really embrace the Transportation Safety Board's recommendations for safety action," said lawyer Joe Fiorante, who represents six of the seven passengers who survived the crash, including West Vancouver businessman Jeffery McCord.
In particular, Fiorante said the passengers want the Transportation Minister to act on recommendations that would reduce the risk of fire following a plane crash - which killed both of the pilots.
"For them it's very important that something positive come out of the accident," he said.
Since 2006, the safety board has recommended that Transport Canada adopt new standards for smaller planes that would cut power to electrical systems and reduce sources of ignition following crashes. So far, however, the government has not acted on those recommendations.
In releasing its report into the Richmond crash of the Northern Thunderbird airplane on Wednesday, the Transportation Safety Board again emphasized those recommendations.
The report concluded both pilots of the plane could have survived their injuries from the crash, but were killed by the fire that engulfed the wreckage after impact.
That fire was concentrated in areas where the aircraft's electrical wiring was routed, the report noted.
That result is consistent with a previous safety board study that found people were more likely to be killed by smoke inhalation from post-crash fires than by plane crashes themselves.
The safety board has urged authorities to demand a switch be added to cut power on planes following a crash, as well as better containment systems for fuel and better insulation to prevent sparks from friction starting a fire.
Currently however, those measures haven't been put in place.
"More needs to be done to reduce the risks associated with post-crash fires," the report's authors stated.
"The board is concerned that if no action is taken by Transport Canada to address the recommendations made in (the 2006 safety study) ignition sources will remain and the risk of postcrash fire will persist."
Wednesday's report pointed to a series of problems that caused the crash. An oil leak from one of the plane's engines happened after a cap was not properly secured. The problem was not discovered because "a complete pre-flight inspection of the aircraft was not conducted," according to the report.
The airline company had also not adopted an optional modification offered by the engine manufacturer that would have dealt with the possibility of an unsecured oil cap, according to the report. Pilots also did not take action after the oil leak was pointed out to them prior to take off.
When the plane returned to Vancouver International Airport to deal with the leak, in its final approach it was flying at an airspeed too low for the pilot to maintain control, according to the report.
Earlier this year, the passengers represented by Fiorante filed a civil lawsuit against Northern Thunderbird Air, blaming the negligence of the company and flight crew for injuries suffered in the crash. The airline denies the claims.
