Synopsis
On 16 November 2017 at 0926 hours local time, Viking Air DHC-6-200 aircraft, registration 8Q-IAG, operating as flight Q27100, suffered an accident during the take-off run from Dhoores (DOR) water aerodrome near “AAAVEEE Nature’s Paradise Island” (Dhoores Island) in the Maldives. The aircraft was on a commercial visual flight rules (VFR) flight with 12 passengers and three crew, destined for Velana International Airport (MLE).
During the take-off roll, the aircraft encountered sea swells. It struck a first swell, bounced, struck a second swell, and then struck a third swell. Upon striking the second swell, the crew sensed that the right float had detached. After striking the third swell, the left float also detached, causing the nose to pitch into the water. The pilot-in-command shut down the engines. The detached floats were cut by the propellers, which sustained damage. The floats remained trapped under the wings, keeping the aircraft afloat with the nose submerged. Water entered the aircraft.
Injuries to Persons
The source states: "All 12 passengers and three crew were able to evacuate the aircraft without physical injury."
Damage to Aircraft
The floats were detached and cut, and the propellers were damaged due to striking the floats. The aircraft sustained damage from the impact with the swells and subsequent water entry.
Other Damage
No other damage was reported.
Personnel Information
The flight crew consisted of a pilot-in-command and a first officer, both of whom had been flying DHC-6 aircraft on floats for more than six years. The crew reported for duty at 0615 hours on the day of the accident. The accident flight was the fourth sector of the day for both pilots. The pilot-in-command was the pilot flying for the first and third sectors, while the first officer was the pilot flying for the second and fourth (accident) sectors.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Viking Air (De Havilland) DHC-6-200, manufactured with serial number 226, registered in the Maldives as 8Q-IAG. It was owned by Gravitas Aviation Ltd and operated by Island Aviation Services Ltd. At take-off, the aircraft had a mass of 11,665 lbs, with 1,600 lbs of fuel and 265 lbs of baggage.
Meteorological Information
The weather at the departure point was bad. The crew discussed the best take-off path, choosing a direction that minimized the effect of the swell patterns, which were less prominent nearer to the island.
Aids to Navigation and Communications
No specific information provided in the source.
Aerodrome and Approved Facilities
The accident occurred at Dhoores water aerodrome, a floating platform.
Flight Recorders
No information provided.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The aircraft struck a series of swells during the take-off run. After the floats detached, the aircraft came to a stop with the nose in the water. The standby dhoni and a dinghy boat arrived within minutes to assist. All passengers were rescued and taken to the resort.
Medical and Pathological Information
No information provided.
Fire
No fire occurred.
Survival Aspects
The cabin crew initiated evacuation. The first officer opened the left cabin emergency door and assisted passengers. Passengers wore life jackets. A standby dhoni and a dinghy boat reached the aircraft within approximately two minutes. Six passengers exited via the left emergency exit and boarded the dinghy; the other six were taken from the right side by the standby dhoni. All passengers were transported safely to the resort.
Tests and Research
No information provided.
Organisational and Management Information
The operator was Island Aviation Services Ltd. The aircraft was released for a multi-sector flight plan (MLE-MLF-KMA-DOR-MLE) with a combined flight release. The landing at DOR was conducted crosswind, parallel to the swell patterns.
Analysis
The source does not provide analysis beyond the findings and causes.
Conclusions
Findings
Findings are not explicitly listed in the source; only causes are provided.
Causes
The accident was caused by the aircraft encountering high sea swell conditions during the take-off run, which resulted in the detachment of both floats and subsequent damage to the propellers.
Safety Recommendations
Recommendations were made to the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority (MCAA) and the operator, but details are not provided in the public excerpt.