Incident
at 50 NM North of Port Hardy
(Aerodrome, runway or taxiway shutdown)
UPDATE from RCC Victoria: A1 - 090015Z. American-registered BE24 MAYDAY (504200N 1272520W - 48 NM of Port Hardy). Vancouver ACC reported the aircraft declaring a MAYDAY after suffering an engine failure and subsequently restarted the engine 50 NM North of Port Hardy. CCG Helo 304, Cape Sutil, Gordon Reid, and CF Corm R912 were tasked. CCG Helo 304 intercepted and escorted the aircraft.
At 0005Z the pilot of the private American-registered John D. Barrett DDS PS Beech BE24, VFR Ketchikan WA to Port Townsend WA, at 9,000 ft and approximately 50 NM North of Port Hardy declared a MAYDAY stating the engine had failed. Through 7,000 ft the engine was re-started but running roughly. The pilot advised he would be direct for Port Hardy. The pilot subsequently advised that he had switched fuel tanks and the engine appeared to be running normally. The aircraft continued on to Port Hardy and landed there without further incident at 0043Z. Port Hardy Airport had emergency services standing by, and had closed all runways pending the aircraft landing. The RCMP and BCHS were on the scene and positioned. The Rescue Coordination Centre was advised and a Coast Guard Helicopter at Port Hardy was dispatched in the event the aircraft was unable to reach Port Hardy. The aircraft taxied to the apron under its own power. The airport conducted a FOD check and then re-opened all areas at 0052Z.
UPDATE / Add Info from TSB: A08P0213: The privately-registered Beech B24R aircraft was on an IFR flight from Ketchican, Alaska, to Port Townsend, Washington. About 50 NM North of Port Hardy, while cruising at 9,000 ft, the engine (Lycoming IO-360-1B) suddenly stopped. After about 15 seconds it surged on and continued to surge on and off at 2-3 second intervals. The pilot declared a MAYDAY with his intention to divert to Port Hardy. He completed a cockpit check which included turning on the booster pumps and changing fuel tanks. After a few minutes the engine began to run normally. The pilot was able to climb back up to 9,000 ft and continued to Port Hardy, where the aircraft landed without further difficulty.