Incident Overview

Date: Saturday 26 October 2019
Aircraft Type: de Havilland Canada DHC-3T/M601 Turbine Otter
Owner/operator: Blue Water Aviation Services
Registration Number: C-GBTU
Location: Family Lake, Little Grand Rapids First Nation, MB – ÿ Canada
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3
Component Affected: Right-hand wing lift strutRight-hand wing lift strut
Investigating Agency: TSBTSB
Category: Accident
A DHC-3T Turbine Otter, operated by Blue Water Aviation Services, experienced a catastrophic accident during a flight from Bissett (CJY6) to Family Lake near Little Grand Rapids, MB. The aircraft sustained fatal injuries due to a right wing detachment during a final approach to the water. The incident involved a fatigue fracture in a wing strut, leading to overstress and subsequent separation of the wing and fuselage.A DHC-3T Turbine Otter, operated by Blue Water Aviation Services, experienced a catastrophic accident during a flight from Bissett (CJY6) to Family Lake near Little Grand Rapids, MB. The aircraft sustained fatal injuries due to a right wing detachment during a final approach to the water. The incident involved a fatigue fracture in a wing strut, leading to overstress and subsequent separation of the wing and fuselage.

Description

A float-equipped DHC-3T Turbine Otter operated by Blue Water Aviation Services, was conducting a flight from Bissett (CJY6), MB to Family Lake near Little Grand Rapids, MB with 1 pilot and 2 passengers and approximately 800 pounds of freight on board. The purpose of the flight was to transport 2 contractors, their tools, and some roofing materials. It was the first of a series of flights planned for that day. As the aircraft was turning final for the water at Family Lake the right wing became detached from the fuselage. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and collided with the water surface. The pilot and 2 passengers sustained fatal injuries. Findings as to causes and contributing factors 1. A fatigue fracture originated in the bolt hole bore of the right-hand wing lift strut’s upper outboard lug plate, and eventually led to an overstress fracture of the right-hand wing lift strut’s upper outboard and inboard lug plates during the left turn prior to the final approach. 2. The failure of the outboard and inboard lug plates led to the separation of the right-hand wing lift strut from the wing and, subsequently, the separation of the right wing from the aircraft.

Source of Information

https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/plane-crashes-in-lake-near-little-grand-rapids-with-three-passengers-on-board-rcmp-1.4657007, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/rcmp-body-float-plane-little-grand-rapids-1.5338396, https://www.dhc-3archive.com/DHC-3_209.htmlhttps://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/plane-crashes-in-lake-near-little-grand-rapids-with-three-passengers-on-board-rcmp-1.4657007, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/rcmp-body-float-plane-little-grand-rapids-1.5338396, https://www.dhc-3archive.com/DHC-3_209.html

Primary Cause

Fatigue fracture in a bolt hole bore of the right-hand wing lift strut’s upper outboard lug plate, resulting in an overstress fracture of the upper outboard and inboard lug plates during a left turn prior to final approach.Fatigue fracture in a bolt hole bore of the right-hand wing lift strut’s upper outboard lug plate, resulting in an overstress fracture of the upper outboard and inboard lug plates during a left turn prior to final approach.

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