Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Tau: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1984 at 1340 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N43SP
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pago Pago - Tau
MSN:
669
YOM:
1980
Flight number:
HK513
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
5094
Captain / Total hours on type:
1020.00
Aircraft flight hours:
11281
Circumstances:
The aircraft crash landed after the pilot used flaps and power to semi control pitch after the elevator down control cable failed at about 300 feet agl on final approach. The left wing of the aircraft hit the terminal roof during the stall mush from 50 feet agl. The company is changing their aircraft control cables from steel to stainless steel to aid in the anti-corrosion and modifying their inspection period from 800 to 100 hours between inspections. The cable that separated failed from corrosion. No evidence of fatigue cracking or mechanical wear was found. Corrosion products were found within 2 inches of the serapation on both cable pieces.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: airframe/component/system failure/malfunction
Phase of operation: approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
Findings
1. (c) flt control syst, elevator control - corroded
2. (c) flt control syst, elevator control - failure,total
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Mokhotlong

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1984
Operator:
Registration:
7P-LAA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mokhotlong - Maseru
MSN:
622
YOM:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The crew reduced his altitude and completed an emergency landing past the runway end. There were no casualties while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb for unknown reasons.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 200 in Córdoba

Date & Time: May 25, 1984
Operator:
Registration:
T-83
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Comodoro Rivadavia – Córdoba
MSN:
170
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Córdoba-Pajas Blancas Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions and was forced to initiate a go-around. During a second attempt to land, the aircraft was too low and crashed in a maize field, few km short of runway 18 threshold. All 15 occupants were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 200 in Paulatuk: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1983 at 1310 LT
Registration:
C-FGJK
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Inuvik - Paulatuk
MSN:
213
YOM:
1969
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On approach to Paulatuk Airport, the pilot encountered marginal weather conditions with strong cross winds and blowing snow. On short final, while making a transition from visual to instruments flight rules, the pilot decided to initiate a go-around when the left wing struck the ground. Out of control, the aircraft veered to the left and came to rest. The pilot and a passenger were killed while 10 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- The Paulatuk aerodrome runway is not oriented to correspond with the prevailing winds,
- Environment Canada does not produce an aerodrome forecast for Paulatuk,
- As the aircraft landed, the crosswind from the right increased appreciably reducing visibility in blowing snow,
- During the overshoot, as the pilot was making the transition from visual to instrument flight conditions, control of the aircraft was lost,
- The aircraft was overloaded by 840 lbs.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Landsdowne House: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1983
Operator:
Registration:
C-GTLA
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sandy Lake – Landsdowne House – Thunder Bay
MSN:
632
YOM:
1979
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The Twin Otter was completing a schedule service from Sandy Lake to Thunder Bay with an intermediate stop in Landsdowne House, carrying five passengers and two pilots. On approach, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions and the captain decided to initiate a go-around procedure. A second circuit was completed without losing sight of the airfield. During the second attempt to land, the pilot-in-command reported 'runway in sight' and the copilot called for radioaltimer at 200 feet altitude. On short final, the captain reported he was encountering whiteout conditions when the airplane struck the snow-covered and icy surface of the lake about 1,200 feet short of runway threshold. Upon impact, the nose gear was torn off then the aircraft struck rocky terrain and eventually came to rest in flames about 600 feet short of runway. A passenger was seriously injured while both pilots escaped with minor injuries. Four passengers were killed in the accident.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred during a visual approach in reduced visibility and difficult weather conditions (white conditions). Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident resulting in a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Lonkin: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1983
Operator:
Registration:
XY-AEE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lonkin - Myitkyina
MSN:
512
YOM:
1976
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Lonkin Airport, while in initial climb, the crew initiated a turn to the left when the left engine failed. The airplane lost height, struck trees and crashed few hundred meters from the runway end. Five passengers were seriously injured while nine other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine during initial climb for unknown reasons.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Bamako: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1983
Operator:
Registration:
TZ-ACH
Survivors:
No
MSN:
394
YOM:
1973
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
On final approach to Bamako-Senou Airport, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances near Niéla, about 5 km short of runway. All seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 310 in Flotta

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1983 at 1300 LT
Operator:
Registration:
G-STUD
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Aberdeen - Flotta
MSN:
545
YOM:
1977
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9010
Captain / Total hours on type:
1503.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
184
Copilot / Total hours on type:
100
Aircraft flight hours:
7000
Circumstances:
Strong winds were reported at Flotta as the Twin Otter approached Orkney Island. The aircraft first contacted the airport at 11:56, and was informed that the surface wind was indicating 260°/26 knots. The pilot accordingly elected to make a straight in approach to runway 35. The pilot preferred the cross-wind to come from his left-hand side, so that he could 'see' the left main wheel onto the runway. The aircraft touched down left main wheel first, then on the right main wheel and, as the nosewheel touched, the commander selected reverse thrust from the propellers. As the aircraft touched down, the audible stall warning sounded momentarily. Shortly after reverse thrust from the propellers had been selected and achieved, the aircraft’s left wing started to rise. The captain applied full left wing down aileron and full left rudder, then cancelling reverse thrust from the right-hand propeller and increasing forward power on that engine. However, he was still unable to prevent the left wing from rising further. The right-hand wing-tip contacted the ground, the aircraft yawed to the right and then fell back momentarily onto the main wheels before ‘cartwheeling’ through an aerodrome boundary fence and coming to rest on its left side, with both wings detached. All 12 occupants escaped uninjured while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a loss of control, shortly after touchdown, following a strong lateral gust which was in excess of the maximum cross-wind capability of the aircraft. The lack of accurate surface wind information at the runway threshold was a contributory factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Shashgow Ghazni: 19 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1983
Operator:
Registration:
YA-GAZ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Tarinkot - Kabul
MSN:
395
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
After departure from Tarinkot (Urozgan) Airport bound for Kabul, weather conditions deteriorated. The crew decided to climb to an altitude of 18,500 feet under VFR mode. While flying in poor weather conditions, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed on the slope of a mountain located in Shashgow Ghazni. All 19 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the crew continued under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions. It was also determined that the crew suffered physical impairment due to a lack of oxygen while flying at high altitude.