What happened
On June 2, 2009, a De Havillandum DHC-6-200 Twin Otter, registration 8Q-MAG, was conducting a specialized aerial photography flight over the Halaveli Resort Lagoon in the North Ari Atoll. The flight, operated by Maldivian Air Taxi, involved three crew members and four passengers. After departing from a floating platform, the aircraft performed several orbits around the island at various altitudes for photography purposes.
During the mission, a passenger moved from the cabin to the co-pilot seat to obtain a better view for photography. As the pilot-in-command initiated a descending right-hand turn to facilitate the landing phase, the right wing and float struck the water. The impact caused the aircraft to lose control and skid across the shallow reef. The structural damage was extensive: both wings broke at the root, the left float detached, and the right float became wedged between the engine and the fuselage, obstructing the co-pilot's exit. Despite the severe damage to the empennage and fuselage, all seven occupants successfully evacuated the aircraft without any fatalities.
The investigation
The Accident Investigation Coordinating Committee (AICC) examined the wreckage and interviewed the crew. The investigation established that the aircraft was within its certified weight limits and was mechanically serviceable prior to the accident. However, investigators found that the pilot was operating the aircraft at an altitude lower than permitted by both company manuals and Civil Aviation Department (CAD) regulations.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed that a passenger was occupying the co-pilot seat at the time of the impact. The committee also noted that the crew was not fully aware of the specific conditions of a regulatory exemption regarding passenger seating during photography flights. Additionally, the investigation highlighted a lack of formal guidance for special operations like photo flights and identified a breakdown in the communication of regulatory amendments from the operator to the flight crew.