Occurrence
On 24 May 2016, a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver floatplane (registration C-FJOM, operated by Inland Air Charter) was landing at the water aerodrome in Kitkatla, British Columbia. The landing was unusually hard, causing the aircraft to bounce off the water. On the second touchdown, the left wing struck the water surface. The aircraft then settled into the water and partially nosed over before submerging. All 7 persons on board—comprising the pilot and passengers—egressed into the water as the aircraft sank.
Occupant Safety and Rescue
During the flight, none of the occupants were wearing personal flotation devices (PFDs). Moreover, when evacuating, no one retrieved the available life vests. All 7 individuals were rescued by local boaters. Three persons were subsequently transported by MEDEVAC to a hospital with suspected minor injuries; the other four were uninjured or did not require medical attention.
Investigation
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board (TSB) conducted a Class 3 investigation into the occurrence. Class 3 investigations analyze a limited number of safety issues and may produce recommendations; they are typically completed within 450 days. The investigation determined that gusty crosswind conditions led to the hard landing. No other causal factors were identified. The TSB released its findings on 22 January 2018.