Sonoski, Colin Joseph (Captain)
Killed in Flying Accident 2002-July-18
Birth Date: 1963-March-14
Born:
Parents: Son of John Sonoski.
Spouse: Husband of Sharon Singleton.
Home:
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: 1988-August-29
Service
RCAF
Unit
444 Sqn- Squadron
Strike Swift Strike Sure
Base
Rank
Captain
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Mission
Griffon 146420
SOE 2002-July-18 to 2002-July-18
444 () () CFB Goose Bay, Newfoundland
Scheduled for delivery to No. 444 (CS) Squadron, CFB Goose Bay, Newfoundland, on 11 September 1995. Still with this unit when it crashed and was destroyed after tail rotor left aircraft, 100 NM north of Goose Bay, while on SAR mission on 18 July 2002. Aircraft was about 100 to 200 feet above ground level, under low cloud cover, at the time. 2 pilots killed (Capt. J-A MacKenzie and Capt. C.J. Sonoski), 2 Flight Engineers seriously injured. Investigation blamed tail rotor fatigue, starting at a small nick on one blade. Portion of blade detached, resulting imbalance resulted in entire tail rotor assembly detaching. Capt. MacKenzie was probably first female CF pilot killed in an operational crash.Griffon serial: 146420
(Andy Vanderheyden Photo)(Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page)
Bell CH-146 Griffon, RCAF (Serial No. 146491).
Bell CH-146 Griffon, RCAF (Serial No. 146491).
The Bell CH-146 Griffon is a multi-role utility helicopter used in a wide variety of roles, including aerial firepower, reconnaissance, search and rescue and aero-mobility tasks. It has a crew of three, can carry up to ten troops and has a cruising speed of 220"“260 km/h (120"“140 kn; 140"“160 mph). The Canadian Forces purchased 100 aircraft and received them in 1995"“1997. In 2005, nine CH-146s were sold to the Allied Wings consortium to be used as trainers at No. 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School, located at Southport Aerospace Centre just south of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
The Griffon features GPS-satellite navigation and Doppler-radar systems. It can also be fitted with a variety of equipment, including self-defence weapons, a powerful searchlight, and a hoist to extract people and cargo from almost any terrain.. Harold Skaarup web page and RCAF web page
Griffon Helicopter
Wikipedia Griffon Helicopter
Harold A Skaarup Web Page
CH-146 Griffon Kestrel Publications