The Department of National Defence is attributing cracks recently discovered in the tails of the majority of Canada’s Cyclone helicopters to a design flaw.
In a statement Monday, the department said its technicians and Cyclone manufacturer, U.S.-based Sikorsky Aircraft, made an “initial determination” that equipment on the tail sections of the aircraft was too heavy to be supported in flight, thereby causing the cracking.
It directed questions about the cracks to Sikorsky.
The first crack was discovered during routine maintenance of a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter on Nov. 26, 2021. When the rest of the fleet was inspected, cracks were found in 21 of the 23
