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Float accident Refuge Cove, BC
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AvacadoBros
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Float accident Refuge Cove, BC
Happened May 19th but still no CADORS. I was waiting for that before I posted but I get the impression a cadors won't be logged for some reason. I will leave a few things here for you to look into if you want. Simple google of floatplane crash refuge cove will bring you articles. Photo linked below. There are a LOT of questions that need to be asked on this one folks. I feel for the low time pilot that should have never been there in the first place, my heart goes out to him. Therefore I feel for the passengers who in simple association shouldn't have been there. Should have been looked after/monitored FAR better than what they did.
Re: Float accident Refuge Cove, BC
From TSB....
C-GTNE, a CorilAir Charters Limited Cessna 185E departed Campbell River Harbour (CAE3), BC,
under visual flight rules, for a sight-seeing trip with the pilot and two passengers on board. The
flight planned route was a round trip that included three stops, following the traditional mail delivery
route in and around the Discovery Islands. The first stop was Refuge Cove on West Redonda
Island. The southerly winds outside the cove were strong with whitecaps evident and the pilot
elected to land inside the cove where it was more protected. The pilot flew over the intended
landing site to assess its suitability. Once complete, the pilot initiated a southbound landing. While
on short final, it was reported that the aircraft’s sink rate increased. The aircraft touched down and
bounced 4 times on the water. The pilot initiated a go around by applying full power but the aircraft
rolled to the left, the left wing struck the water, the aircraft flipped, and came to rest upside down
with the cabin submerged.
The pilot and both passengers egressed the aircraft. The pilot inflated his personal flotation device
(PFD) and assisted the two passengers in inflating their PFDs. One passenger required assistance
to remove a headset cord that had wrapped around their neck. Rescue boats were on site quickly
and recovered the survivors to shore. A Coast Guard vessel arrived approximately twenty minutes
after the accident and transported the occupants to Campbell River. They were transported by
ambulance to the local hospital where they were treated for injuries.
Both the pilot and the rear passenger had received underwater egress training which contributed to
the survivability of the accident. The front passenger was able to follow the direction provided
during the passenger briefing and successfully open the right front door. The pilot and front
passenger were wearing a lap belt with a shoulder harness and the rear passenger was wearing a
lap belt.
The electronic locator transmitter (ELT) signal was not received after the impact likely as a result of
the antenna being submerged. After the aircraft was recovered onto a barge the following day, an
ELT signal was received by the Canadian Mission Command Centre. The aircraft was substantially
damaged.
C-GTNE, a CorilAir Charters Limited Cessna 185E departed Campbell River Harbour (CAE3), BC,
under visual flight rules, for a sight-seeing trip with the pilot and two passengers on board. The
flight planned route was a round trip that included three stops, following the traditional mail delivery
route in and around the Discovery Islands. The first stop was Refuge Cove on West Redonda
Island. The southerly winds outside the cove were strong with whitecaps evident and the pilot
elected to land inside the cove where it was more protected. The pilot flew over the intended
landing site to assess its suitability. Once complete, the pilot initiated a southbound landing. While
on short final, it was reported that the aircraft’s sink rate increased. The aircraft touched down and
bounced 4 times on the water. The pilot initiated a go around by applying full power but the aircraft
rolled to the left, the left wing struck the water, the aircraft flipped, and came to rest upside down
with the cabin submerged.
The pilot and both passengers egressed the aircraft. The pilot inflated his personal flotation device
(PFD) and assisted the two passengers in inflating their PFDs. One passenger required assistance
to remove a headset cord that had wrapped around their neck. Rescue boats were on site quickly
and recovered the survivors to shore. A Coast Guard vessel arrived approximately twenty minutes
after the accident and transported the occupants to Campbell River. They were transported by
ambulance to the local hospital where they were treated for injuries.
Both the pilot and the rear passenger had received underwater egress training which contributed to
the survivability of the accident. The front passenger was able to follow the direction provided
during the passenger briefing and successfully open the right front door. The pilot and front
passenger were wearing a lap belt with a shoulder harness and the rear passenger was wearing a
lap belt.
The electronic locator transmitter (ELT) signal was not received after the impact likely as a result of
the antenna being submerged. After the aircraft was recovered onto a barge the following day, an
ELT signal was received by the Canadian Mission Command Centre. The aircraft was substantially
damaged.
