What happened
On 4 October 2017, a Viking Air DHC-6-300, registration 8Q-ISB, was performing a scheduled flight from Niyama Private Island to Velana International Airport. The aircraft, operated by Island Aviation Services Limited, was carrying 15 passengers and 3 crew members.
As the aircraft approached the North Right Water Runway, the crew encountered approaching inclement weather and deteriorating visibility. During the landing sequence, the aircraft touched down on its left float and bounced. In an attempt to initiate a go-around, the captain applied full power while the aircraft was still in a nose-high, right-wing-low attitude with flaps fully extended. This maneuver caused the aircraft to strike the water on its right float, with the right wing tip digging into the surface. The aircraft subsequently banked sharply to the right, turned toward the shore, and flipped, coming to rest upside down in the shallow sea. All 18 people on board evacuated safely through the right-hand emergency exit before rescue boats arrived.
The investigation
The AICC investigation focused on the handling of the aircraft during the landing and the subsequent attempted recovery. Investigators examined the wreckage and found no evidence of mechanical or technical defects that contributed to the accident. The crew members were found to be properly certified and qualified for their duties, and drug tests returned negative results.
Analysis of the flight sequence revealed that the aircraft was at a very low speed and high pitch attitude when the power was increased. The investigation also looked into the cockpit environment, noting that the captain applied full power by placing his hand over the co-pilot's hand without formally announcing a change in control or following standard flap reduction procedures.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the improper recovery techniques used following a bounced landing, specifically applying a go-around procedure while the aircraft was at low speed with flaps fully extended.
- A significant breakdown in crew resource management (CRM) occurred, as the captain did not announce the takeover of controls or follow established procedures for flap adjustment.
- The crew exercised poor judgment by attempting to land despite the approaching heavy rain and gusty crosswinds, hoping to land before the storm arrived.
- Environmental factors, including heavy precipitation and near-zero visibility at the moment of touchdown, contributed to the difficulty of the landing.