RANKIN INLET/WINNIPEG - The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada and Nunavut Airports would neither confirm nor deny human error during refuelling as the main factor in a July plane crash in Rankin Inlet this past week.

Transportation Safety Board of Canada regional operations manager (air) Peter Hildebrand of Winnipeg said it could be months before an official report on a July plane crash in Rankin Inlet is public. - photo courtesy of Peter Hildebrand

The departments would also neither confirm nor deny the two passengers on-board the 1970 Aero Commander 500 (AC-50) twin-piston aircraft which crashed shortly after takeoff on Sunday, July 18, have filed a lawsuit seeking damages for their terrifying experience.

TSB's regional manager of operations (air) Peter Hildebrand of Winnipeg said his department's official investigation into the crash is still ongoing.

He said a public report will be released on the accident, but that's probably still months away.

"I can confirm we are looking at fuel, but that's not the only issue we're investigating," said Hildebrand.

"We're looking at all the various reasons why the airplane didn't maintain flight.

"We've taken fuel samples from various places, in terms of the airplane and fuelling equipment in Rankin.

"We don't have an official finding as to what happened, or why it happened, so it would be premature, on my part, to comment on that."

Hildebrand said the fuel samples have been sent to Edmonton for testing.

He said test results should be available in the not-too-distant future.

"The testing at the laboratory can take some time.

"Once we receive that report, we'll have to work up a draft report of our own and, by our legislation, we have to send that out to interested parties such as the plane's owner and any other people who might be affected by our findings, before the report can be made public."

Hildebrand would not answer directly whether there was a problem with the fuel, or if the wrong type of fuel or other liquid content was mistakenly put into the plane during refuelling.

He did, however, say his department is mostly working on the fuel issue in connection to the crash.

"I'm not going to prejudge what else may come out after we've tested the fuel samples.

"But the fuel issue is taking up most of our work right now and is a big part of what we're doing.

"But, it's not just one issue involved, and we're looking at all the normal things, as a routine, we would for any air accident like that.

"We have to keep an open mind as we go along in case there's anything else that could have contributed to it."

Hildebrand said while the TSB often becomes aware of a lawsuit involved in an incident it's investigating, it's not part of its mandate.

He said things often come up when people are being talked to during the course of an investigation.

"I don't have any official information as to that aspect of this, and, certainly, we don't really take cognizance of it.

"We do a safety investigation, and if other people have claims, or think they have claims, they pursue them in a completely different arena."

Director of Nunavut Airports Shawn Maley said he has not been notified of any lawsuit in the matter.

He said he's still waiting on the official cause of the accident.

"I haven't heard anything official back from the TSB at this point, so anything said in the community is pure speculation at this time," said Maley.

"There was a representative from an insurance company involved in Rankin this past week to inspect the crash site, gather information and decide whether the plane's salvageable or not.

"All I know, is people within the Petroleum Products Division and M&T have been interviewed in regards to the matter.

"There's a lot being said in the community right now, but, until something becomes official, it's all rumour and speculation as far as I'm concerned."

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