What happened
On 13 November 2020, a Viking Air DHC-6-300, registration 8Q-MBC, was performing a charter flight from Finolhu Resort water aerodrome to Velana International Airport. The aircraft was carrying 15 passengers and three crew members.
During the take-off roll in a north-westerly direction, the aircraft failed to produce sufficient lift and briefly lifted off before dropping back toward the water. In an attempt to stop the aircraft, the crew initiated an aborted take-off. However, the crew encountered difficulty moving the power levers into the reverse position. Consequently, the crew shut down both engines. Despite the engine shutdown, the aircraft's momentum carried it forward until it struck a series of water bungalows.
The collision caused damage to the left wing leading edge, the right wing tip, and one of the right propeller blades. The impact also damaged the wooden structures of the bungalows. The aircraft was subsequently towed back to the floating platform by a dinghy, and all passengers and crew disembark safely without injury.
The investigation
The AICC investigation, assisted by the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority and Trans Maldivian Airways, examined the aircraft, the crew, and the environmental conditions. Investigators reviewed the Garmin G900 suite data cards and performed functional checks on the aircraft. During a subsequent engine run, the left engine's reverse thrust was found to be functioning correctly, suggesting the reported lever difficulty may not have been present during testing.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating during a period of high winds, with a yellow weather alert active for the area due to expected gusts up to 40 mph.
- The crew was attempting to depart quickly to ensure a timely turnaround at the main base.
- The crew was unable to move the power levers to the reverse position during the aborted take-off.
- There were concerns regarding the calibration of scales used for weighing luggage at the resort and by the operator.