Incident
at LOURDES-DE-BLANC-SABLON QC (CYBX)
At 1210Z and position 35NM west of Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon (CYBX), QC, a Keewatin Air Beech B200 (C-FRMV/KEW202) on a flight from Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon (CYBX), QC, to Sept-Îles (CYZV), QC, reported smoke in the cockpit and requested to return to CYBX. The flight was re-cleared as requested and landed at 1221Z.
UPDATE: TSB Report#A17Q0139: C-FRMV, a Beech King Air BE20 aircraft operated by Keewatin Air under KEW202, was conducting a medevac flight from Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon, QC (CYBX) to Sept-Iles, QC (CYZV) with 4 passengers and 2 crew members on board. Shortly after departure from CYBX, the crew noticed a burning smell in the cockpit, followed by the flight nurse reporting that traces of smoke could be seen in the cabin. The source of smoke was identified as coming from under the middle seat area in the cabin. The crew initiated a return to CYBX, and switched the medical inverter to OFF after which the smoke appeared to dissipate. As the aircraft was preparing to land at CYBX, as the crew selected flaps to approach, the flap motor circuit breaker popped. The circuit breaker was reset successfully and the aircraft landed without further event. While taxiing back to the terminal, the flap motor circuit breaker popped a second time when the flaps were selected to the up position. The crew did not reset the circuit breaker. After investigation, the operator?s maintenance found that the flap travel limit switch cam assembly had cracked, allowing the flap to bottom out within the flap track, just before the travel limit switch being met. This allowed the flap motor to run continuously to hold the flaps in position versus the gearbox holding the flaps in position. Flap travel limit switch cam assembly was changed and, as a precautionary measure, flap motor and gearbox were also changed. The aircraft tested serviceable and was returned to service.