Accident Details
On May 22, 2021, about 1830 central daylight time, a de Havilland DHC-2 floatplane, registration N218RD, sustained minor damage during a water landing near Oak Island, Minnesota. The pilot and one passenger were not injured, and one passenger sustained serious injuries, including vertebrae fractures. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to local authorities who spoke with the pilot/owner, before the flight the pilot added hydraulic fluid to the reservoir due to a known leak in the amphibious float landing gear system. At some point during the flight, the left rear wheel extended and protruded from the float. The pilot was unaware of the wheel's position and landed on the water near his residence. During the water landing, the extended wheel contacted the water, causing the airplane's nose and propeller assembly to immediately go into the water. After the pilot and passengers exited the airplane, it subsequently flipped over. One passenger sustained vertebrae fractures during the accident sequence.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a de Havilland DHC-2 equipped with amphibious floats. The pilot reported that the hydraulic leak was the result of a failed o-ring in the lower hydraulic fitting on the jack assembly. The airplane's maintenance records were lost in the water following the accident, and the most recent maintenance could not be determined.
Investigation
Due to the remote accident location, neither the National Transportation Safety Board nor the Federal Aviation Administration examined the aircraft. The pilot provided photos of the landing gear system problem area and a short video demonstrating the leak.