What happened
On 16 November 2017, a Viking Air DHC-6-200, registration 8Q-IAG, was performing a commercial flight from the Dhoores Floating Platform under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). The aircraft was carrying 12 passengers and 3 crew members. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft encountered heavy sea swells.
As the aircraft accelerated, it struck a swell, causing a bounce that resulted in the detachment of the right float. A subsequent impact with a third swell caused the left float to partially detach as well. The loss of float integrity caused the aircraft's nose to dip into the water. During the sequence of impacts, the propellers struck the detached floats, causing significant damage to the propeller blades and float structures. The pilot managed to shut down the engines, and the crew initiated an emergency evacuation. All 15 occupants successfully evacuated the aircraft into the water and were rescued by nearby vessels.
The investigation
The AICC investigation examined the aircraft's structural integrity, the environmental conditions at the time of the accident, and the flight crew's actions. Investigators analyzed the wreckage, noting that the nose section of the aircraft was severely damaged and eventually detached during salvage operations. The investigation also reviewed the metallurgical properties of the float attachments, finding no evidence of premature failure or structural defects prior to the impact.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the impact with heavy sea swells during the takeoff run.
- The aircraft was operating in sea conditions that were described as bad, which led to the structural failure of the float assembly.
- The detachment of the floats caused the aircraft to lose its ability to maintain a level attitude, leading to the nose entering the water.
- Propeller damage was a direct result of the blades striking the detached float components.
- The crew followed engine shutdown procedures and successfully managed the evacuation of all passengers.