What happened
At approximately 1410 CST, a Cessna A185F seaplane, registration C-GALM, was performing a takeoff from Engemann Lake, Saskatchewan, destined for Thomson Lake. The aircraft was operated by Transwest Air and was carrying the pilot and two passengers. During the initial climb, approximately 10 to 15 feet above the water, the pilot looked to the left through the side window. Shortly after this movement, the aircraft struck the water, overturned, and began to sink.
The pilot and the front-seat passenger managed to escape the sinking vessel and survived, though they suffered from hypothermia by the time they reached shore. However, the passenger seated in the rear left seat sustained serious injuries to the head, chest, and legs. Due to the lack of a shoulder harness in that seat, the passenger was unable to escape the aircraft and subsequently drowned.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage, which was located at a depth of 70 feet. The examination revealed compressive damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage, indicating a nose-down impact. While investigators identified a fatigue crack in an eye bolt on the left forward float strut, testing determined that this failure would not have caused the aircraft to pitch into the water. Additionally, the engine and propeller were ruled out as causes, as no pre-impact anomalies were found and the aircraft was flying at a speed above the stall threshold.
The investigation also looked into the pilot's flight and rest history. The pilot had completed his previous duty period at 2100 the night before and began the accident flight duty at 0500. Furthermore, the pilot had not filed an operational flight plan for the specific leg of the flight as required by company policy.
Findings
- The horizontal stabilizer trim had been set to a nose-down position during the takeoff run, which required the pilot to maintain constant back pressure on the control column to maintain a climb.
- The pilot most likely unintentionally relaxed the back pressure on the control column while looking to the left, causing the aircraft to pitch nose-down and strike the water.
- The pilot's rest period prior to the flight was less than the minimum required by regulations and company manuals.
- The rear passenger's ability to escape was hindered by injuries and the absence of a shoulder harness in the rear seat.
- A fatigue crack was present in the left forward float strut eye bolt, though it was not a cause of the impact.