What happened
On February 14, 2021, a DHC-6-300 floatplane, registration 8Q-RAE, operated by Manta Air, was performing a scheduled charter flight from Maalifushi water aerodrome to Velana International Airport. During the landing phase on the North-Right water runway, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of control immediately following touchdown.
As the aircraft touched the water, the right-hand float dug into the surface, triggering a sharp right-hand turn. The momentum caused the aircraft to capsize, eventually coming to rest in an inverted position. While the aircraft sustained substantial damage, the buoyancy of the floats prevented the fuselage from sinking. All six passengers and two crew members evacuated the aircraft safely, though the cabin crew sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The AICC investigation focused on the flight crew's actions and the aircraft's structural integrity. Investigators examined the flight path, noting that the approach was unusually steep due to the pilot flying (the co-pilot) attempting to avoid overshooting the threshold. The investigation also reviewed the maintenance records of the wing and wing strut assemblies, finding that all required airworthiness directives and inspections had been completed according to schedule.
During the post-accident analysis, investigators noted that the left-hand wing and its strut failed at the attachment points following the initial impact. While the exact metallurgical cause of the failure could not be determined due to pandemic-related restrictions, there was no evidence of maintenance overruns or corrosion-related fatigue.