History of Flight
On 17 May 2004, a De Havilland DHC-6-300 floatplane, registered 8Q-TMC and operated by Trans Maldivian Airways, was scheduled to fly from Male' International Airport to Velaavaru Resort Island in Dhaalu Atoll. The aircraft had completed two earlier flights (four legs) with the same crew that day. It carried 14 passengers, seven female and seven male, along with three crew members: a captain, a co-pilot, and a cabin crew member. The take-off mass was calculated at 12,493 lbs, including 1,255 lbs of fuel.
At 10:55 local time, the flight received clearance for a westbound departure from the water runway on the eastern side of the airport. The available take-off and manoeuvring distance up to the seawall was approximately 1,000 metres. The wind was 230 degrees at 9 knots. The aircraft taxied from the Trans Maldivian Airways dock to the east-west water runway, backtracked to the end, and commenced the take-off run under the control of the captain.
During the take-off, a passenger photograph later showed the flaps at zero degrees and an airspeed of 70 knots. Witnesses, including the crew of another Trans Maldivian Airways DHC-6 (8Q-TMJ) taxiing for departure and air traffic controllers, noted that the take-off run appeared longer than normal. Passengers reported that the aircraft accelerated slowly, though the pilots perceived conditions as normal. As the aircraft approached the seawall, the captain pulled on the controls to clear the obstacle, which led to a stall. The left-hand float struck the seawall and was sheared off.
Injuries
Two crew members (the captain and co-pilot) suffered serious injuries. One passenger sustained serious injuries, another passenger had minor injuries, and the remaining 12 passengers and the cabin crew member were uninjured. There were no fatalities.
Damage to Aircraft
The left-hand float was detached from the aircraft; its forward underside was crushed. The right-hand float was cut off at the forward propeller cautionary line. The left wing's forward attachment point was sheared off, and the left wing strut detached from the fuselage, severing the fuel line. The left wing turned upside down with its leading edge facing rearwards. All connections to the left engine were severed. The right wing remained intact, but the right propeller detached from the engine flange. The cockpit ceiling and left side of the fuselage behind the captain's seat were cut multiple times. The aft fuselage was ruptured. The aircraft skidded on the fuselage along the grass before stopping on the main runway.
Other Damage
The top cement layer of the seawall was crushed. Track marks were left on the runway.
Personnel Information
The captain held a Maldivian licence, type rating on the DHC-6, and had extensive experience on the aerodrome. The co-pilot also held a Maldivian licence. Details of their total flight hours and recent duty times were documented in the report.
Meteorological Information
The wind at the time was 230 degrees at 9 knots. No other significant weather conditions were noted.
Findings and Causal Factors
The accident occurred due to the collision of the left-hand float with the seawall. The investigation identified that the crew did not select flaps to the standard 20 degrees required for take-off. Additionally, the crew failed to abort the take-off as the aircraft approached the seawall, and the pilot-in-command took no action to abort.