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Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 off Kuredu Island

Date & Time: Jul 2, 2015 at 1733 LT
Operator:
Registration:
8Q-MAN
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Male - Kuredu Island
MSN:
435
YOM:
1974
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5075
Captain / Total hours on type:
4200.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
988
Copilot / Total hours on type:
705
Aircraft flight hours:
24132
Circumstances:
Flight FLT371301, a Viking Air (De Havilland) DHC-6-300 aircraft with registration mark 8Q-MAN, crashed into the sea approximately 3 km southeast of Kuredu (KUR) at 1733 hrs on 2 July 2015. The aircraft was flying under visual flight rules (VFR) on a charter flight, carrying 11 passengers from Komandoo (KOM) to Kuredu (KUR). According to the operating crew, the aircraft was on final approach, northwest bound, to land at KUR. At approximately 400 feet, on selection of flaps to the fully down position, the aircraft pitched up and the aircraft was vibrating. The pilot flying (PF) could not control the aircraft and asked the PIC to take over the controls. The aircraft was in a nose-high attitude when the PIC took over the controls. The stall warning light illuminated. The PIC applied full left rudder, moved the control column forward and put the power levers to idle to recover the aircraft. The aircraft, however, did not respond to these actions. Flaps were then moved to the fully up position. The PIC was gaining some control at this stage but the aircraft continued turning right, losing height and impacted the sea before he could regain full control of the aircraft. On initial impact the left float detached. The aircraft then bounced and landed on the right float causing the right float to also detach from the aircraft. The right float was, however, trapped between the airframe and the engine for several minutes. With both floats detached from the aircraft and the right float still trapped between the airframe and engine, the aircraft stayed afloat until all passengers and crew evacuated. At the same time the aircraft started tilting left causing water to rush inside and started sinking. All 11 passengers and three crew were able to evacuate the aircraft without injury, before the aircraft completely sank. The accident was notified to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Committee (AICC) at 1750 hrs. Investigation began on the same day. Inspectors arrived at the scene at 2300 hrs, about five and a half hours after the accident occurred.
Probable cause:
The investigation identified the following causes:
a. The aircraft was operated outside the centre of gravity limitations on the sector in which the accident occurred.
b. The load distribution errors went undetected because the mass and balance calculations were not carried out in accordance with the approved procedures, prior to the accident flight.
c. The co-pilot (PF) was not alerted to the impending stall as she neither saw the stall warning light illuminated nor heard the aural stall warning.
d. The PIC was not able to gain control of aircraft as developing stall was not recognized and incorrect recovery procedures were applied.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 310 in the Maadhiggaru Falhu lagoon

Date & Time: Jul 11, 2011 at 0910 LT
Operator:
Registration:
8Q-TMD
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Male - Male
MSN:
530
YOM:
1977
Flight number:
TMW201A
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5732
Captain / Total hours on type:
3387.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2650
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2650
Aircraft flight hours:
34746
Aircraft flight cycles:
62428
Circumstances:
The 8Q-TMD aircraft took-off from water runway of Male’ International Airport North Bound Left (NL) at 0820 hrs local time on 11 July 2011 for a routine training flight bound to Maadhiggaru Falhu (a lagoon located approximately 15 nautical miles south west of the Male’ International Airport). The sky was clear with good visibility and wind 8-10 knots from west and south west. During the training 5 landings and take-offs were made simulating different conditions of flight. Crew confirmed that all these landings and take-offs were made inside the lagoon except the last landing where the crew decided to land on open water outside the lagoon. Crew were simulating single engine landing with a tail wind. As per the crew, the aircraft initial touch down was smooth. However, they stroke a wave which made the aircraft bounce up for about 20 feet. With the low power the aircraft hit the water again, resulting in multiple float attachments to break. Both front and main spreader bars broke and floats rose up twisted, hitting the engine bottom cowlings. Propeller cut was found on top front of both floats.
Probable cause:
Impact with a high swell during landing followed by a high bounce and hard landing resulting in both float attachments being damaged and detached with a major structural damages. Major contributing factor was higher than normal touch down speed due to abnormal landing configuration.
Contributing factors:
- Selection of inappropriate landing site (channel) and landing direction (tail wind) based on surface conditions present at that time,
- Simulation of multiple emergencies,
- Abnormal landing configuration (flaps at zero) for single engine landing,
- Time pressure to complete the training and return to commercial operations.
Final Report: