Floatplane Crash Thread

[pelmet]

From TSB...

C-FYAO, a privately operated Cessna 185, was on a visual flight rules flight from the Moisie River, QC, to Costebelle Lake, QC. During the initial climb, at approximately 200 feet AGL, the engine (Teledyne Continental IO-520-D) misfired. The pilot immediately turned toward the river, and the engine shut down completely. The height did not allow for a glide to the river, and the aircraft collided with trees. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the two occupants sustained minor injuries. The emergency locator transmitter (ELT) activated.

[pelmet]

Teen boy, 16, was standing on dock when fatally struck by small plane in Lake Scugog, police say | CBC News https://share.google/3PlggecK6vCpNGX99

This season isn't going well...

Just saw Jason also shared.

More details now from TSB....

C-FCDB, an Ultravia Pelican Sport 600 Amateur Built aircraft on amphibious floats, was on a local flight with two souls on board. The aircraft had departed from Scugog Charles Landing Water Aerodrome and was returning to land after completing the short flight. The landing was performed with glassy water conditions and the pilot decided to stay near the shoreline and use the landscape as a reference for the height above the water. The aircraft skipped on the water at least twice prior to the pilot reducing power. The landing was aborted and the pilot applied full power to go-around. The aircraft pitched nose up and veered to the left where it impacted two docks with the left float. One individual was on the second dock when they were struck by the aircraft and fatally injured. The aircraft then struck a moored pontoon boat and came to rest in an inverted position on the pontoon boat. The aircraft was substantially damaged during the impact sequence. Both occupants exited the aircraft with some difficulty. One of the occupants returned to the aircraft to switch off electrical power and turn off the fuel valve. The Emergency Locator Transmitter did not activate during the impacts.

One thing I will say about glassy water landings are that it is not unusual for a lot more landing distance than normal to be used with most of it being the aircraft floating just above touchdown with the pilot having adjusted the power for a very minimal rate of final descent. Meanwhile, the nose can be very high blocking forward visibility and the pilot is concentrating inside on watching that VSI to keep 1 or 200 fpm descent. Meanwhile, some VSI's can be off by a hundred feet per minute and you can be floating along for an extended period in the ground effect(or maybe you just have slightly too much power). Meanwhile again, the pilot may have intentionally chosen a planned landing run close to shore in order to be able to use the trees as a reference to decide when to transition into the final minimum rate of descent phase. If that shoreline happens to be getting closer to the aircraft as the aircraft moves along(or the aircraft is drifting toward shore), there could be a collision. Something to keep in mind as you put most focus inside for the landing.....what is coming up further along.

In the accident case, it appears that this was a go-around issue, perhaps from a near-stalled condition.

[pelmet]

This is a strange one. Any comments from more experienced floatplane pilots......I know that it is a terrible feeling to have your aircraft moving toward another one with it beyond your control(or possibly not enough control to change direction fast enough). Have experienced that twice now(but no damage as a result).

C-GVIX, a Vancouver Island Air Limited De Havilland Aircraft of Canada DHC-3T (Turbo Otter),
was preparing to depart Campbell River Water Aerodrome (CAE3), BC, for Knight Inlet Lodge, BC,
under visual flight rules, with 1 flight crew member, and 14 passengers on board. After engine
start, the aircraft was untied from the dock by a ground handler. The aircraft began to move
forward, parallel to the dock, and the pilot had difficulty stopping the aircraft. The pilot signaled the
ground handler to retie the aircraft to the dock, but the ground handler did not respond to the
signal. The pilot then exited the aircraft in an attempt to arrest its forward movement from outside
the aircraft. A second company pilot entered the aircraft after the first pilot had exited and turned
off the aircraft engine. Before the aircraft engine was shut off, it had moved approximately 20 feet
forward along the dock and collided with a second company Turbo Otter that had been parked in
front of the occurrence aircraft. The pilot of the occurrence aircraft sustained minor injuries when
exiting the aircraft. No passenger injuries were reported.
C-GVIX sustained minor damage, limited to the engine and propeller. C-GVIR sustained
substantial damage to its elevators and vertical stabilizer.

......from TSB.

[oldncold]

any updates on the 2024 crash of otter cgmlb ? was the plane recovered from lake ?report said submerged at approx time of crash , still listed on the can civil registry over a year latter . dhc 3 website says current .but finding that has not been accurate for several years unfotunately ,did it get rebuilt over the winter?

[piperdriver]

any updates on the 2024 crash of otter cgmlb ? was the plane recovered from lake ?report said submerged at approx time of crash , still listed on the can civil registry over a year latter . dhc 3 website says current .but finding that has not been accurate for several years unfotunately ,did it get rebuilt over the winter?

I believe it was trucked to Springer Aero in Bar River Ontario, near Sault Ste. Marie. I am not sure how much progress has been made on the rebuild of this aircraft.

[pelmet]

Interesting accident. I suppose if there is any indication that one might have somehow struck a float on something hard, best to return and check. It would be nice if any of the float plots on the forum could let us know if they have ever punctured a float and what sort of indication they got. Was it subtle or obvious?

"C-FKBT, a privately registered, Piper Aircraft Corporation PA-14 (Family Cruiser) floatplane,
departed an area approximately 1.5 nautical miles east of the Fraser Lake Water Aerodrome
(CBJ8), BC, on a recreational flight, under visual flight rules, to Fleming Lake, BC, with the pilot
and 1 passenger onboard. This was the second flight of the day. The pilot arrived on Fraser Lake
from Drywilliam Lake and beached the aircraft near White Swan Park. The pilot picked up 1
passenger and their baggage. It was reported that the beach area was rocky. After loading, the
aircraft was taxied and began a 58 second take-off run. After liftoff, it was observed that the aircraft
was climbing very slowly and seemed heavy. At about 200 feet above ground level (AGL), the pilot
carried out a left turn onto the downwind. The aircraft was not climbing and seemed to have
difficulty maintaining altitude. Approximately 35 seconds after takeoff, the aircraft appeared to stall,
and the left wing dropped abruptly. The pilot was able to level the aircraft's wings just before
impacting the lake. The aircraft came to rest partially submerged. The pilot swam to shore while
the passenger stayed with the aircraft. Both were rescued by persons with a boat. The pilot
suffered minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged.

The aircraft was recovered from the lake and transported to a maintenance facility. An inspection
determined that the aircraft’s left float had been punctured. This likely occurred during the beaching
and loading process on the shore of Fraser Lake. The puncture allowed water to enter a float
compartment which likely caused the aircraft to be heavier than anticipated and resulted in the
inability to maintain altitude and the ensuing stall."


....from TSB.

[phillyfan]

If it got in the air, it should have no problem staying there.
A plane with alot of water will certainly take longer to become airborne, or it simply will not become airborne. Water weight may be a factor, but certainly will not be the only factor.

[pelmet]

Pretty scary. I had a float dig in a couple of years ago in a 172. An immediate swerve on touchdown. The instructor said that he put in some rudder to correct. I added power to get airborne again. Likely cause by some unrecognized drift. It was a largish lake and I likely was not focusing on drift correction was the conclusion. Only time that has ever happened.......


"C-GAXV, a float equipped Cessna 172M operated by Red River Aviation Services Ltd. was
conducting a training flight from Selkirk Water Aerodrome (CKC5), MB. During landing at CKC5
and at touchdown, the left float dug into the water causing the plane to pivot to the left and roll to
the right. The propeller and the right wing contacted the water and the aircraft came to rest upright
on the floats. The pilot, and sole occupant, reported no physical injuries and taxied the aircraft back
to the dock. The aircraft was substantially damaged."

....from TSB.

[floatman]

This is a strange one. Any comments from more experienced floatplane pilots......I know that it is a terrible feeling to have your aircraft moving toward another one with it beyond your control(or possibly not enough control to change direction fast enough). Have experienced that twice now(but no damage as a result).

Started the airplane without realizing that the pitch latches were not engaged would be my guess (prop was feathered as the power lever was not pulled aft enough on shutdown). As it started to spool up, he would have noticed it was feathered (and moving towards fine pitch), chopped the fuel condition lever and jumped out to tie it up, but still had the forward momentum of the airplane spooling up and pulling it towards the plane in front.

I always take time to go through this scenario with new dock hands. Everyone working the dock should pay attention to the props, especially when it's busy and there are a lot of quick turn arounds. It's the kind of thing a pilot can easily miss and ruin your day in a big way. If you see a feathered prop on a turbine seaplane at the dock, bring it to the pilot's attention BEFORE he hits the starter...

Quick google search gave me this which describes the pitch latches/locks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6cRIIa8Liw

[‘Bob’]

Lots of seaplanes start in feather. It’s going to be pretty embarrassing brining it up to a Harbour Air turbo Otter pilot.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hlaKcsH_qHM&t=97s

They keep it tied during start and then untie after it’s in fine.

The real thing is.. as a pilot or dockhand or rampie, trust, but always be prepared and give yourself an out. Never assume the brakes are going to hold, the traction is going to hold, the rope is going to hold, the prop is going to stay in feather or fine, the power is going to stay at idle, or the pilot or ground crew or especially the passengers are paying attention.

[J31]

"C-GAXV, a float equipped Cessna 172M operated by Red River Aviation Services Ltd. was
conducting a training flight from Selkirk Water Aerodrome (CKC5), MB. During landing at CKC5
and at touchdown, the left float dug into the water causing the plane to pivot to the left and roll to
the right. The propeller and the right wing contacted the water and the aircraft came to rest upright
on the floats. The pilot, and sole occupant, reported no physical injuries and taxied the aircraft back
to the dock. The aircraft was substantially damaged."

....from TSB.

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/562434