What happened
On 24 February 2020, a Viking Air DHC-6-300, registration 8Q-MBC, was performing a scheduled charter flight from Velana International Airport to Kuredhu Island Resort. The flight, operated by Trans Maldivian Airways, was carrying two pilots, one cabin crew member, and 15 passengers.
During the approach to the water aerodrome, the aircraft encountered rough sea conditions and squally winds characteristic of the North-East monsoon. As the aircraft touched down on a designated water runway, it struck a wave and bounced. Following the bounce, the aircraft banked sharply to the left, causing the left wingtip to strike the water. The aircraft then veered, and the right wing dropped abruptly as the nose dug into the sea. The pilot attempted a go-around, but the aircraft could not recover. The impact caused the right engine to detach from its mount and resulted in significant damage to the wings, fuselage, and propellers.
All 18 people on board evacuated safely, though two crew members and one passenger sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The AICC investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, flight crew performance, and environmental conditions. Investigators noted that the flight crew had recently returned from a three-day rest period and were flying together for the first time that day. The investigation also focused on the mechanical state of the engine mounts and the impact of the sea state on the landing maneuver.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a skip or bounce upon touchdown due to high speed and the impact of a sudden large wave.
- The approach path was taken near the edge of the reef where waves break more violently.
- There was a lack of crew briefing or formal introductions between the pilots prior to the flight.
- The aircraft's right engine became detached during the sequence of impacts.
- An SD data card containing technical and operational parameters from the Garmin 950 Avionics Suite was missing from the aircraft at the time of the investigation.
- The aircraft's flight controls were subject to cross-control inputs during the touchdown phase.