Incident Overview

Date: Monday 12 April 2010
Aircraft Type: de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300
Owner/operator: Kenn Borek Air
Registration Number: C-GKBC
Location: Melville Island, NU – ÿ Canada
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4
Component Affected: Main GearMain Gear
Category: Accident
A DHC-6 Twin Otter 300, C-GKBC, experienced a significant loss of control during takeoff from an unprepared ice cap strip, resulting in damage to the aircraft and crew. The takeoff was initiated on a slight downhill slope with a crosswind, and the aircraft subsequently bounced and landed in a depression, leading to a gear separation and subsequent stop.A DHC-6 Twin Otter 300, C-GKBC, experienced a significant loss of control during takeoff from an unprepared ice cap strip, resulting in damage to the aircraft and crew. The takeoff was initiated on a slight downhill slope with a crosswind, and the aircraft subsequently bounced and landed in a depression, leading to a gear separation and subsequent stop.

Description

The wheel-ski equipped de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300, registration C-GKBC, was departing from an unprepared strip on the Melville Island ice cap, Canada. The strip surface was smooth snow. There were two crew and two passengers on board, as well as a small skidoo, a skidoo sled, and boxed gear. The sky conditions were clear and the winds were estimated to be 5 to 8 knots. The takeoff was initiated on a slight downhill slope, into approximately 70 degrees of crosswind, with a minimum of 2000 feet available to a predetermined reject point. All engine parameters were normal; however, the aircraft did not accelerate as expected and the takeoff continued approximately 800 feet past the reject point, to an area where the terrain sloped more steeply into a depression. The aircraft became airborne at low speed over the depression and maximum power was applied in order to clear gently rising terrain ahead. The main gear contacted the ground on the far side of the depression, and the aircraft bounced and touched down a second time in an area covered by basketball size rocks. At that point the takeoff was rejected and the aircraft came to a stop approximately 300 feet past the second touchdown point. There were no injuries; however the nose gear broke off at the fork, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the forward, lower and aft fuselage.

Primary Cause

Unprepared ice cap strip, insufficient takeoff slope, crosswind, and lack of acceleration.Unprepared ice cap strip, insufficient takeoff slope, crosswind, and lack of acceleration.

Share on:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *