TSB releases findings of probe into 2021 aircraft, YRP drone collision at Buttonville Airport – Toronto | 24CA News

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) says “unsuccessful visual scanning” and “operator task saturation” have been elements in a collision between a York Regional Police (YRP) drone and a small plane on the Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport in 2021.

On Aug. 10, 2021, a Cessna 172N plane was approaching the airport when it collided with a YRP DKI Matrice M210.

In a report launched Thursday, the TSB stated the plane was flown by a scholar pilot with a flight teacher on board. The drone was being operated by a pilot on the bottom and a visible observer.

The TSB stated the plane and drone collided.

“Following the collision, the Cessna aircraft continued the approach and made an uneventful landing,” a TSB report reads. “After parking the aircraft, damage on the front left cowl under the propeller was observed.”

According to the TSB, the YRP drone was destroyed.

No accidents have been reported because of the incident.

The TSB stated the Cessna pilots have been “unaware of the presence of airborne RPA traffic in the vicinity” and “due to several factors, the active scanning that is part of the see-and-avoid principle was unsuccessful in identifying the conflict.”

The TSB stated the YRP coverage “does not require that visual observes be trained crew members, and the RPA pilot did not brief the visual observer on his role and responsibilities before the operation.”

“As a result, the visual observer was not aware of the requirement to maintain visual line-of-sight with the RPA, nor was he trained in visual scanning techniques or aircraft identification,” the report stated.

The TSB stated the RPA pilot was working the digital camera system, monitoring the standing of the RPA and speaking on “multiple channels.”

“As a result, he likely became task saturated, restricting his ability to visually monitor the RPA and hear radio calls on the control zone’s mandatory frequency and the sound of incoming aircraft, both of which preceded the collision,” the report stated. “As a result of these factors, the conflict went unrecognized and the two aircraft collided.”

The TSB stated after the incident, the YRP “amended its directive to include the addition of a pre-flight risk assessment tool” and up to date its RPA pilot guidelines.

“There is also additional guidance for the role of the visual observer, including a quick reference card outlining their roles and responsibilities, as well as a requirement to have a visual observer present for all operational RPA flights,” the report stated.

Global News reached out to YRP for remark, however didn’t hear again by time of publication.

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