Floatplane Crash Thread

[PilotDAR]

can a regular floatplane waterloop?

Not and remain upright. A flying boat can go around with little damage, perhaps the result of a step turn gone wrong. There's a good [bad] video of a silly pilot doing it in the Dornier in Switzerland a few years ago, evidence of how not to handle a flying boat on the water! Had that plane had wing tip floats, he would have lost them!

[pelmet]

Taxiing so quick in a floatplane that he accidentally became airborne. I suppose a step taxi......

An unregistered Challenger II ultralight aircraft on floats was taxiing on the surface of the water in
the vicinity of Lower Shoal Harbour, NL when the aircraft unexpectedly became airborne with one
person on board. While maneuvering in the air, the aircraft stalled and rolled to the left, resulting in
the left wing striking the surface of the water and the aircraft capsizing. The pilot was able to
evacuate the aircraft with minor injuries and was taken to shore via rescue boat. The aircraft
sustained substantial damage.

[pelmet]

C-FVOL, a privately registered Quest Kodiak 100 amphibious airplane, was conducting a flight
from Atlin (CYSQ), BC, to Trout Lake, BC, with 3 passengers and 2 crew members on board. After
landing, while taxiing the aircraft to a nearby shore, the aircraft was caught in a river current and
grounded in shallow rocky water. There were no injuries. Three days later, a helicopter slung the
aircraft to a nearby shore. The crew conducted a visual inspection of the aircraft. They then flew
from Trout Lake to CYSQ with only the 2 pilots on board. The crew intended for maintenance
personnel to conduct a more thorough inspection of the aircraft. During the takeoff run, the aircraft
could not accelerate to the speed needed for liftoff and the crew rejected the takeoff. Following the
rejected takeoff, the aircraft rolled to the right and became partially submerged. There were no
injuries. The aircraft was substantial damaged. The emergency locator transmitter did not activate.
The crew were airlifted to Atlin by a local helicopter company.
The aircraft was recovered and transported to Atlin.

[pelmet]

C-GVOM, a privately registered Piper PA 18A 150 (Super Cub), was conducting a visual flight rules
trip from Grassy Lake (57° 55.18' N, 131° 29.41' W) to Level Lake (58° 29. 69' N, 131° 17. 07' W)
with the pilot and 1 passenger on board. After liftoff, approaching the end of the lake, the aircraft
encountered a downdraft and began to lose altitude. The pilot initiated a left turn to avoid terrain at
the end of the lake. In the turn, the aircraft stalled and struck the water in a nose down, left wing
low attitude. The occupants were able to quickly exit the aircraft and then swam to the nearby
shore. The emergency locator transmitter did not function but a personal locator beacon was used
to signal the emergency. A helicopter was dispatched from Dease Lake to evacuate the pilot and
passenger. The passenger was uninjured and the pilot was taken to hospital for treatment.
The aircraft was recovered from the lake and taken to Telegraph Creek. Maintenance will conduct
an inspection and determine the repair requirements.

[pelmet]

Looks like a great job by this float pilot.....

C-FYMV, a float-equipped de Havilland DHC-2 MK1 operated by Kississing Lake Lodge (dba
Wings Over Kississing), was conducting a flight from Lynn Lake/Eldon Lake (CKD3), MB to Kovacs
Lake, MB with 1 pilot and 2 passengers on board. Roughly 10 minutes into the flight, while in
cruise at 2500 feet ASL, a loud grinding noise was heard from the engine (Pratt & Whitney - USA
R-985-AN-14B) before it stopped immediately. The pilot made a rapid emergency descent towards
Dunsheath Lake, MB and transmitted a MAYDAY call on 126.7 MHz, which was received from
another aircraft flying in the area. C-FYMV landed uneventfully on Dunsheath Lake. The pilot
immediately exited the aircraft and called the operator on satellite phone to report the incident and
coordinate a rescue.

Perhaps the rapid descent was to have some extra speed on the roundout for landing. A good idea when on floats.

[TheRealMcCoy]

C-FVOL, a privately registered Quest Kodiak 100 amphibious airplane, was conducting a flight
from Atlin (CYSQ), BC, to Trout Lake, BC, with 3 passengers and 2 crew members on board. After
landing, while taxiing the aircraft to a nearby shore, the aircraft was caught in a river current and
grounded in shallow rocky water. There were no injuries. Three days later, a helicopter slung the
aircraft to a nearby shore. The crew conducted a visual inspection of the aircraft. They then flew
from Trout Lake to CYSQ with only the 2 pilots on board. The crew intended for maintenance
personnel to conduct a more thorough inspection of the aircraft. During the takeoff run, the aircraft
could not accelerate to the speed needed for liftoff and the crew rejected the takeoff. Following the
rejected takeoff, the aircraft rolled to the right and became partially submerged. There were no
injuries. The aircraft was substantial damaged. The emergency locator transmitter did not activate.
The crew were airlifted to Atlin by a local helicopter company.
The aircraft was recovered and transported to Atlin.

There's a video of the "take off". Full power into the water, thermo locked the engine.

[TeePeeCreeper]

C-FVOL, a privately registered Quest Kodiak 100 amphibious airplane, was conducting a flight
from Atlin (CYSQ), BC, to Trout Lake, BC, with 3 passengers and 2 crew members on board. After
landing, while taxiing the aircraft to a nearby shore, the aircraft was caught in a river current and
grounded in shallow rocky water. There were no injuries. Three days later, a helicopter slung the
aircraft to a nearby shore. The crew conducted a visual inspection of the aircraft. They then flew
from Trout Lake to CYSQ with only the 2 pilots on board. The crew intended for maintenance
personnel to conduct a more thorough inspection of the aircraft. During the takeoff run, the aircraft
could not accelerate to the speed needed for liftoff and the crew rejected the takeoff. Following the
rejected takeoff, the aircraft rolled to the right and became partially submerged. There were no
injuries. The aircraft was substantial damaged. The emergency locator transmitter did not activate.
The crew were airlifted to Atlin by a local helicopter company.
The aircraft was recovered and transported to Atlin.

There's a video of the "take off". Full power into the water, thermo locked the engine.

Talk is cheap, Link?

[pelmet]

C-FFJV, a privately registered, float-equipped Stinson 108-2, was conducting what was to be the
last in a series of flights on the morning of 16 October 2022 between a location on the Kenogami
River, Ontario to the Geraldton/Hutchison Lake Water Aerodrome (CNE6), Ontario, (approximately
73 NM to the WSW of the takeoff location), with a pilot and passenger on board. The water in the
river was reportedly lower than usual: the pilot was very familiar with the location, which was an
annual destination for him. During the takeoff run, while on the step, the aircraft floats struck rocks,
after which the takeoff was aborted. Neither occupant was injured, however, the pilot was unable to
repair the damaged floats with the supplies he had on board. The pilot, using a satellite
communication device, was able to notify the JRCC and NavCanada of the occurrence. Due to
inclement weather, the JRCC was unable to rescue the pilot and passenger, who spent the night
near the aircraft. Later the following day, when the weather had cleared, an Ornge helicopter
picked up the occupants and brought them to safety. Neither occupant was injured or suffering
from hypothermia following the delay in rescue. The aircraft remains at the occurrence location,
although there are efforts underway to recover it before the winter.

One does have to be careful with water depth changes and take it into consideration for locations that they are familiar with.

I have been doing some amphib flying lately on a package I purchased.

I was going with my instructor to a lake(is a reservoir) that I had visited twice earlier in the year. He mentioned that it had been lowered recently for the winter season.

It was a good point for my notes.

Not really a problem in my case but one could get used to landing in a specific location that happens to be a bit shallow but never having been problematic and not take water depth variables into consideration because it always worked out in the past.

Would like to hear any experiences from other float pilots on the subject.

[pelmet]

C-FDDX, a De Havilland DHC-3T float aircraft operated by True North Aviation Inc., was
conducting a flight from Mistissini Water Aerodrome, QC (CSE6) to Lac Pluto, QC. While
maneuvering for a landing, the aircraft struck the surface of the water. The passengers, who were
waiting nearby, transported the pilot to a nearby cabin, where he was later taken to hospital by a
search and rescue helicopter. The pilot, who was the sole person on board, received serious
injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The TSB is investigating.

[TheRealMcCoy]

Talk is cheap, Link?

Don't think it'll ever see the light of day. I watched it on the phone of the fella who filmed it. But i'm just some random poster on the internet soo...

[TeePeeCreeper]

Talk is cheap, Link?

Don't think it'll ever see the light of day. I watched it on the phone of the fella who filmed it. But i'm just some random poster on the internet soo...

Fair enough. Appreciate your taking the time to reply.

TPC

[pelmet]

Via Google Translate.....

C-FVVW, an advanced Delisle CADI ultralight on floats, was carrying out a test at speed
medium engine on Lake Kénogamichiche, QC with the pilot alone on board. While the pilot had
increased engine rpm and was still at low speed with the nose high, the right wing swept up.
lifted probably due to a gust of wind, the left wingtip touched the
surface of the water and the aircraft overturned. The pilot managed to get out and was not injured.
The seaplane sustained damage primarily from water immersion.

[pelmet]

From now on, I will try to note that any quoted report is from the TSB to avoid any confusion. I am not tech savvy, so I won't be posting a picture of the actual report(plus it is time consuming. If there is any doubt, please contact the TSB for further details.....

C-FIUY, The Upper Winds Air Ltd. de Havilland DHC-2, was departing from Spray Lakes, AB to
Ghost Lake, AB. While conducting a water take-off, a crosswind gust lifted the left wing of the
aircraft. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was unable to maintain control of the aircraft. The
left-wing tip dragged on the water surface. Subsequently the nose and the right wing tip of the
aircraft contacted the surface of the lake as the aircraft came to an abrupt stop. The emergency
locator transmitter activated, and the aircraft returned to the shoreline. The pilot was uninjured and
the aircraft received damage to the right-wing tip fairing and propeller.

[pelmet]

From the TSB.....

C-FIGF, a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver on floats, was being operated by Alkan Air from Mayo, YT
float base (3 nm E of CYMA) to McClusky Lake, YT. The flight was transporting two passengers to
the Wind River for a canoe trip. The pilot aborted the first approach, to the south, as the variable
winds were not favorable. On the second approach, to the north, after touchdown on the water, the
pilot attempted a go-around. The engine (PRATT & WHITNEY-USA, R-985-AN-14B) hesitated and
did not produce power quickly enough. The pilot aborted the go-around and reduced power. During
the deceleration on the water the aircraft didn't come to a stop until it had entered a marshy area.
There were no injuries or damage to the aircraft and all occupants were able to exit the aircraft
unassisted.
Following the flight, the company brought a maintenance team out to inspect the aircraft and pull it
out of the marsh. There were no defects or damage found on the aircraft. The aircraft was returned
to service and flew from McClusky Lake back to the float base in Mayo, YT.

[pelmet]

C-FYKA, a Cessna 172 floatplane, was conducting flight training on Whitewater Lake, ON, with a
student and an instructor on board. During the landing, the left wingtip made contact with the
water, damaging the aircraft. The aircraft remained afloat. The wing was removed for structural
repairs and subsequently reinstalled. The aircraft was returned to service.

TSB

[pelmet]

From Tsb...

C-FNNP, an amateur-built amphibious-equipped Super 22 Bushmaster airplane, was conducting a
VFR flight from Virden (CTVD), MB to Oak Lake Beach MB. While landing at Oak Lake Beach, the
aircraft landed hard and became partially submerged. There were no injuries to the pilot or
passenger. The aircraft was substantially damaged. It was reported that glassy water conditions
existed at the time of landing.

[pelmet]

From TSB...

C-GXKQ, a float equipped privately registered Cessna 182P, was on a recreational flight from
Bonnyville (CYBF), AB to Stoney Lake AB which is 13 NM to the SE of St. Paul (CEW3). On arrival
overhead Stoney Lake, two passes were made to inspect the lake conditions for landing before the
landing attempt was made. On the landing, the flare was misjudged due to glassy water conditions
and the aircraft bounced 3 times. On the third bounce the nose of the floats caught the water and
the aircraft tumbled forward which resulted in the aircraft being inverted in the water. The aircraft
remained on the surface of the lake attached to the floats. Both occupants were able to exit the
aircraft and a passing boater gave them a ride to shore. The ELT did not activate.

[pelmet]

From TSB...

C-FFYO a privately registered Quicksilver Challenger II aircraft on floats was on a local area
pleasure flight operating from Lake Deception, near Lower Ohio, Nova Scotia. During a glassy
water landing the aircraft touched down hard and the fiberglass floats were immediately
compromised. The aircraft sank below the lake surface. The uninjured pilot extracted himself from
the aircraft and swam to shore.
The pilot had taken aircraft egress training in the past year.
In addition to damaged floats the aircraft received some structural damage due to the impact.

[pelmet]

From TSB via Google Translate...

C-FSEO, a Champion Aircraft Corp. 7GCB Challenger (equipped with floats) in private operation
was carrying out a flight under visual flight rules from the Quebec/Lac St-
Augustin, QC (CNS8) to perform touch-and-go shots on the St. Lawrence River a few
nautical miles southwest with an instructor and a pilot on board. After a touch-and-go, the plane
made a circuit to the left and a few moments after reaching 1000 feet above the
sea ​​level downwind, a rapid descent occurred. The plane hit the surface
water with a vertical attitude and the device sank to the bottom of the river. The device has been destroyed
and the 2 occupants suffered fatal injuries.

[pelmet]

This incident got me thinking about the floats. What to do if somehow, they have been damaged but the aircraft is now airborne. Would it be better to land in a field?

From TSB...

C-GGNB, an amateur built Murphy Rebel on amphibious floats, was conducting circuits at Lake St.
John with a pilot and instructor on board. During the occurrence landing, when the aircraft touched
down normally, it suddenly veered to the right, due to a reported issue with a float attachment
point. The aircraft stayed upright but had to be towed to the Orillia-Ramara Airport (CNJ4), ON.
Both pilots received minor injuries.