What happened
During an arrival on Birch Lake, a floatplane experienced a significant mechanical failure upon contact with the water. As the aircraft touched down, the second compartment of the right float suffered a rupture. This breach caused the aircraft to lose buoyancy, leading the nose to dip downward and the plane to submerge.
Despite the vessel sinking, all five occupants successfully exited the cabin. The crew and passengers were able to swim from the sinking aircraft to the nearby shoreline without further incident.
Findings
- The structural integrity of the right float was compromised during the landing phase.
- The rupture of the second compartment of the right float was the primary event that led to the loss of the aircraft.