Introduction
On 22 October 2020, a DHC-6-300 floatplane, registration 8Q-TMR, operated by Trans Maldivian Airways Pvt. Ltd., was involved in a serious incident at Sun Siyam Irufushi Resort water aerodrome in the Maldives. The aircraft was conducting a scheduled flight from Velana International Airport (MLE) to the resort, located on Medhafushi Island in Noonu Atoll.
History of the Flight
The flight, designated FLT703694, was a multi-sector operation with three crew members—two pilots and one cabin crew—and 14 passengers destined for Sun Siyam Irufushi. The aircraft had been released for service on 21 October 2020 after a daily inspection, with no open deferred defects recorded in the technical log.
On the day of the incident, the pilot-in-command (PIC) reported for duty at 0530 hours after an overnight stay at an outstation, while the first officer (FO) reported at 0900 hours. The pre-flight and walk-around checks revealed no abnormalities. The aircraft departed MLE at 10:24 hours with a take-off mass of 12,490 lbs, comprising 574 lbs of baggage, 1,415 lbs of fuel, and 1,926 lbs of passenger weight.
The FO served as the pilot flying (PF) for the sector to Sun Siyam Irufushi. During cruise at 1,500 ft, the aircraft encountered a storm cell near the south edge of Lhaviyani Atoll. The PIC advised a descent to 500 ft, and the flight continued without further abnormalities until after landing.
The Incident
The aircraft landed inside the island lagoon at 11:08 hours. After a normal touchdown, the crew selected reverse thrust. Immediately, the aircraft began turning left, toward vessels anchored in the lagoon. The PIC took control and attempted to correct the deviation but was unable to prevent the left wing from contacting one of the vessels. The left propeller subsequently struck the vessel's accommodation housing.
As a result, the left wing and left propeller blades sustained damage. The vessel, identified as Sun Cruise 09, received scratch marks on the aft left-hand corner and a hole cut in the aft right-hand corner of its accommodation. At the time of the collision, no one was aboard the vessel.
Following the collision, the PIC maneuvered the aircraft away from the vessel using engine power and taxied to a fixed platform. All passengers and crew disembarked safely. No injuries were reported among the 17 persons on board.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the incident, weather at the water aerodrome was reportedly calm and sunny, with a westerly wind of approximately 7 knots and good visibility. The nearest automatic weather station, located at Shaviyani Atoll Funadhoo (28 nm north), recorded at 11:10 hours a wind direction of 250°, average wind of 3 knots, and maximum wind of 5 knots.
Investigation
The Maldives Civil Aviation Authority (MCAA) reported the incident to the Accident Investigation Coordinating Committee (AICC) at 12:34 hours on the same day. AICC initiated an investigation immediately, interviewing crew members. On 24 October 2020, investigators from AICC and MCAA visited the incident site to continue the inquiry.
The investigation was assisted by Trans Maldivian Airways and the MCAA. The report was released on 29 December 2021.
Findings
The investigation did not state a probable cause.
Safety Recommendations
Safety recommendations were included in the full report.