Floatplane Crash Thread

[pelmet]

C- IGJP a privately registered advance ultra-light, Chinook Plus 2, equipped with amphibious floats
was on a local VFR flight from Wawa Municipal Airport, ON (CYXZ) with one pilot onboard. While
in flight over Lake Wawa, the pilot noticed erratic indications with the airspeed and the engine
exhaust gas temperature (EGT) and subsequently decided to conducted a precautionary landing
on the lake. During the landing on the lake surface, the floats dug into the water and the aircraft
flipped over. The pilot, who was wearing a personal flotation device (PFD), egressed the aircraft
and was rescued by the police, who was notified by witnesses on the shore. While the aircraft was
floating inverted, the pilot noticed that the wheels were extended for ground landing. The aircraft
was hoisted out of the water by helicopter. After an initial inspection, only damage to the wing
fabric was found.

[pelmet]

C- IGJP a privately registered advance ultra-light, Chinook Plus 2, equipped with amphibious floats
was on a local VFR flight from Wawa Municipal Airport, ON (CYXZ) with one pilot onboard. While
in flight over Lake Wawa, the pilot noticed erratic indications with the airspeed and the engine
exhaust gas temperature (EGT) and subsequently decided to conducted a precautionary landing
on the lake. During the landing on the lake surface, the floats dug into the water and the aircraft
flipped over. The pilot, who was wearing a personal flotation device (PFD), egressed the aircraft
and was rescued by the police, who was notified by witnesses on the shore. While the aircraft was
floating inverted, the pilot noticed that the wheels were extended for ground landing. The aircraft
was hoisted out of the water by helicopter. After an initial inspection, only damage to the wing
fabric was found.

[pelmet]

"C-FVIA, de Havilland DHC-2 MK1, equipped with floats and operated by True North Airways Inc.
was departing Pilgrim Lake, Ontario with 5 people on board. Shortly after getting airborne the pilot
elected to abort the take-off, as the aircraft was approaching the shoreline and the rising terrain
sooner than he had expected. During the landing, while maneuvering through a narrow section of
the lake, it was reported that the left wing-tip struck a tree. The aircraft touched down on the
remaining lake, which widened out after the narrow section, but the aircraft ran aground and struck
trees at the end of the lake. There were no injuries, but the aircraft received substantial damage to
the floats and leading edges of the wings."

[pelmet]

Looks like a safe deadstick landing on the water by this Beaver.......

"C-FMAS, a De Havilland DHC2-MK1 aircraft, operated by Kississing Lake Lodge Ltd. was enroute
from Kasba Lake (CJL8) NWT to Flin Flon (CYFO) MB with only the pilot on board. While in cruise,
the engine (P&W R985) oil pressure dropped to 0 PSI. The pilot performed a precautionary
shutdown of the engine and then completed a successful forced landing on a nearby lake
(Reindeer Lake, SK). After landing, the pilot contacted the base using a satellite phone and
informed them of his situation."

[pelmet]

Via Google Translate.......

"C-FAUE, a private Commander 285 homebuilder aircraft, was on a flight under
visual flight rules from Klemka Lake, QC to Lac Sébastien Seaplane Base, QC
(CTD3) with 1 pilot and 2 passengers on board. The aircraft taxied towards the northwest part of the lake
to take off in a southeasterly direction. During the take-off roll, the aircraft did not
not taken off where the floats usually rise from the water. The pilot tried
to maneuver to raise the right float to facilitate take-off, but the right float
left rose suddenly. The pilot then reacted to bring the airplane back to horizontal. This
the latter subsequently took off without the pilot having commanded the manoeuvre. Seeing that
the distances with the terrain to the front and the right side were too short for him to
pass over it, the pilot made a turn to the left. As a result, the pilot felt that
the aircraft was descending. He ensured that the engine power control was set to the
full power and lowered the nose of the aircraft to regain more speed. The left wing
suddenly banked and the aircraft no longer maintained its altitude. The pilot cut the engine and
the aircraft collided with water. The 3 people on board were able to extricate themselves and swim
to the nearest shore. They were rescued by witnesses who went to collect them
with a boat. The aircraft sank. Two helicopters were dispatched to the scene to evacuate
and transport the 3 injured people to a hospital in Chicoutimi."

[pelmet]

C-GUZN, a private Cessna U206G, was on a visual flight rules flight from
Sakami River, QC to Guyer Lake. QC with only the pilot on board. After having
disembarked a passenger at a hunting camp located on the Sakami River, the aircraft began its
take off on the Sakami river. During the take-off run, the aircraft struck a bank of
sand and flipped onto his back in the water near the shore. The pilot was slightly injured. the
passenger went to assist the pilot, who then activated the emergency locator beacon
(ELT), thereby alerting the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) of

Trenton, ON, who dispatched a team to rescue them and transport them to Val-
D'Or, QC where they were taken care of.

[pelmet]

Hoping to fly an amphibious aircraft soon. I will admit that on the regular floatplane, the checklist does not get used for all aspects of flight(only for ground ops before takeoff). On the amphibious aircraft, I do plan to be meticulous with the checklist for the entire flight.

C-GFUD, a privately registered, amateur-built, amphibious Seastar SP, was on a local flight from
Boundary Bay (CZBB), BC, with 2 pilots on board. The aircraft completed a touch-and-go on Pitt
River, BC and, on the second landing, the aircraft nosed over into the water. The pilots egressed
and were rescued by a passing vessel. The vessel towed the aircraft to shore. The pilots sustained
minor injuries and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The ELT activated. After the accident,
the pilots verified that the landing gear was in the down position.

The aircraft was disassembled and transported to a hangar where an assessment will be
conducted to determine the repair requirements.

[J31]

Hoping to fly an amphibious aircraft soon. I will admit that on the regular floatplane, the checklist does not get used for all aspects of flight(only for ground ops before takeoff). On the amphibious aircraft, I do plan to be meticulous with the checklist for the entire flight.

C-GFUD, a privately registered, amateur-built, amphibious Seastar SP, was on a local flight from
Boundary Bay (CZBB), BC, with 2 pilots on board. The aircraft completed a touch-and-go on Pitt
River, BC and, on the second landing, the aircraft nosed over into the water. The pilots egressed
and were rescued by a passing vessel. The vessel towed the aircraft to shore. The pilots sustained
minor injuries and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The ELT activated. After the accident,
the pilots verified that the landing gear was in the down position.

The aircraft was disassembled and transported to a hangar where an assessment will be
conducted to determine the repair requirements.

This happens time and time and time again! Total lack of discipline!

Never fly cross country with the wheel gear down.

Treat an amphibian like a retractable wheel aircraft! Always retract the wheel gear on every earth runway takeoff. Always VERIFY the wheel gear is retracted and up for water landings. Always VERIFY the wheel gear is down and locked for earth landings ! Always use a checklist!

I have done many 6 minute flights from the runway to the water and back to the runway in amphibians. VERIFY, VERIFY, VERIFY that the wheel gear is where you want it for all landings!

Rant over!

[TeePeeCreeper]

Hoping to fly an amphibious aircraft soon. I will admit that on the regular floatplane, the checklist does not get used for all aspects of flight(only for ground ops before takeoff). On the amphibious aircraft, I do plan to be meticulous with the checklist for the entire flight.

Pelmet,

Trust you are well.

I would suggest that you treat strait float and amphibious float ops in the same manner.

Should you ever find yourself bouncing between one and the other, being disciplined will help keep you and those on board safe.

Fly safe,

TPC

[PilotDAR]

The aircraft completed a touch-and-go on Pitt River, BC and, on the second landing, the aircraft nosed over into the water. ..... After the accident, the pilots verified that the landing gear was in the down position.

So after a successful water landing, and presumably planning a second water landing, the pilot extended the landing gear!?!

On any plane with retractable landing gear, which includes wheel/ski planes: Speak out loud the position you presently observe the landing gear to be, and the surface you're about to land on - does what you just said make sense?

And, wear your lifejacket for water landings.

[pelmet]

Hoping to fly an amphibious aircraft soon. I will admit that on the regular floatplane, the checklist does not get used for all aspects of flight(only for ground ops before takeoff). On the amphibious aircraft, I do plan to be meticulous with the checklist for the entire flight.

Pelmet,

Trust you are well.

I would suggest that you treat strait float and amphibious float ops in the same manner.

Should you ever find yourself bouncing between one and the other, being disciplined will help keep you and those on board safe.

Fly safe,

TPC

You are no doubt correct.

[PilotDAR]

A link here:

https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/g ... -reddet-ut

to a video of a floaplane crash in Norway recently. The pilot is known to a friend of mine there. Everyone made it out okay (a testament to Cessna structure!). My friend says the a seal lock releasing at the wrong time may have been a factor.

[pelmet]

Fortunately, not a crash. Just an interesting incident.

C-FDKC, a privately registered Lake LA-4 Amphibian aircraft, had just landed into the wind on Big
Rideau Lake near Jerry Island, ON and was slowing down when the pilot noticed left wing was
getting close to the water. The pilot then noticed that the left sponson was missing. The pilot was
able to taxi to a nearby dock and utilizing a paddle board attached to the left wing was then able to
taxi the aircraft to a boat ramp where the aircraft could be pulled up on to land. There is no
apparent damage to the aircraft.

The aircraft was released and the aircraft owners in consultation with and AME and Transport
Canada will determine how best to get the aircraft back to the home base at Rockcliffe (CYRO).
The owners will also get the AME to look at the sponson attachments and get back to us with what
is found.

[PilotDAR]

Happily, the wing tip float of an LA-4 is designed so that if ripped away, the structure of the wing should not be damaged. It would be hard to argue "airwrorthy" but LA-4's have been known to be flown home with only one. I know a fellow in an other country, who, following a waterloop, flew out of the lake to the airport with both wing tip floats missing. He was aided by two small boats to steady the wings for the beginning of takeoff.

If the wing tip float were torn away by a direct strike, the pilot would certainly know they had hit something! A wing tip float can be torn away sideways in a waterloop, though I expect that the pilot would also be aware that that had happened! If waterlooped, an LA-4 needs a structural inspection in the tail. A very quick inspection for the presence of the wing tip float attaching bolts (or not) would be a first start in figuring out what had happened

Many of the German Dornier, and US Boeing flying boats had sponsons, which are a part of the fuselage.

[pelmet]

Happily, the wing tip float of an LA-4 is designed so that if ripped away, the structure of the wing should not be damaged. It would be hard to argue "airwrorthy" but LA-4's have been known to be flown home with only one. I know a fellow in an other country, who, following a waterloop, flew out of the lake to the airport with both wing tip floats missing. He was aided by two small boats to steady the wings for the beginning of takeoff.

If the wing tip float were torn away by a direct strike, the pilot would certainly know they had hit something! A wing tip float can be torn away sideways in a waterloop, though I expect that the pilot would also be aware that that had happened! If waterlooped, an LA-4 needs a structural inspection in the tail. A very quick inspection for the presence of the wing tip float attaching bolts (or not) would be a first start in figuring out what had happened

Many of the German Dornier, and US Boeing flying boats had sponsons, which are a part of the fuselage.

May be a silly question but will ask anyways.....can a regular floatplane waterloop?

[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...