HALIFAX – The Canadian Army discovered cracks in the tails of 19 of its 23 Cyclone helicopters.
The Royal Canadian Air Force issued an email statement on Sunday saying cracks had been detected on four helicopters, but that number rose to 19 later in the day.
The Air Force said the Sikorsky-made plane had not yet been grounded or grounded. Technical experts from the military are working with the company to repair the plane, the military said.
“Sikorsky has a plan to address the crack, with each aircraft requiring a unique approach to repairing the affected parts,” a spokesman said Sunday in an email.
“The Royal Canadian Air Force expects that the first few aircraft affected by this issue will be repaired within the next few days.”
Defense Secretary Anita Anand’s office would not comment on the matter and has referred questions to the military.
The crack in the tail was first discovered on one of the marine helicopters during a routine inspection on 26 November at the 443rd Marine Helicopter Squadron, based in Patricia Bay, BC.
The entire squadron is overseen by 12 Wing Shearwater, an Air Force base in the Halifax area that hosts the 423rd Marine Helicopter Squadron, which also hosts the CH-148 Cyclone.
The military also confirmed Sunday that the two Cyclones do not appear to have any defects in the tail, and that the other two in the fleet are undergoing longer-term maintenance and will be inspected at a later date.
The “maintenance issue” affected Operation LENTUS, the military’s effort to help those affected by widespread flooding in British Columbia. However, the military has deployed other aircraft to fill the void, as have the province and other emergency response partners.
Canada ordered 28 Cyclones in 2004, but the helicopters didn’t begin flying missions until 2018.
Cyclones are commonly deployed on Canadian frigates and are used for search and rescue, surveillance and anti-submarine warfare.
On April 29, 2020, a Cyclone carrying six servicemen crashed off the coast of Greece, killing all on board.
The crash marked the largest single-day loss of life for the Canadian military since the country entered the war in Afghanistan. The crash also highlights Cyclone’s long and problematic growth.
Defense procurement documents released earlier this year show that the $3.1 billion project is “facing financial challenges, increasing procurement costs and some financial adjustments.” and officials plan to ask the government for more money to complete.
Canada’s top military procurement official also warned at the time that there would be no “quick fix” to the software issue identified as the main cause of last year’s problems. Troy Crosby, deputy assistant secretary for supplies at the Department of Defense, said officials are talking to Sikorsky to figure out how to resolve the issue.
Two separate internal assessments by the Armed Forces of Canada found that the autopilot on the helicopter – codenamed Stalker 22 – was in control of the aircraft as the pilot was diverting to land at HMCS Fredericton. .
A flight safety review appears to have absolved Sikorsky of any responsibility, saying that the type of maneuver the Stalker 22 pilot was attempting was not outlined in military documents.
Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Lieutenant General. Al Meinzinger, expressed confidence in the helicopter.
This Canadian Press report was first published on December 5, 2021.
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