Category: DHC-6 Twin Otter

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2019 Cedartown Collisions Other DHC-6 Twin Otter GA Non-Fatal Multi-Engine

DHC-6 Twin Otter Non-Fatal Cedartown, GA October 11, 2019

The pilot in the landing airplane reported that, he had turned on the airport runway pilot-controlled lighting about 5 miles prior to arriving at the airport, and transmitted 2-mile final radio call, over the airport’s CTAF. He landed the airplane and made “S” turns on runway 28 because, “it is not possible to see the opposite threshold” when established on the runway. When the pilot began a right turn to exit the runway at the mid-field taxiway, an airplane that had initiated a takeoff roll from the opposite end of the runway collided with the landing airplane. The airport’s runway does not have a parallel taxiway and it is standard practice to back taxi to the departure end.

 

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2017 CA Collisions Other DHC-6 Twin Otter Loss of Aircraft Control Non-Fatal Multi-Engine Perris

DHC-6 Twin Otter Non-Fatal Perris, CA May 24, 2017

The pilot of the twin-engine, turbine-powered airplane reported that, while providing flights for
skydivers throughout the day, he had a potential new hire pilot flying with him in the right seat. He
added that, on the eighth flight of the day, the new pilot was flying during the approach and
“approximately 200′ [ft.] south from the threshold of [runway] 15 at approximately 15 feet AGL [above
ground level] the bottom violently and unexpectedly dropped out. [He] believe[d] some kind of wind
shear caused the aircraft [to] slam onto [the] runway and bounce into the air at a 45 to 60-degree bank
angle to the right.” The prospective pilot then said, “you got it.” The pilot took control of the airplane
and initiated a go-around by increasing power, which aggravated the “off runway heading.” The right
wing contacted the ground, the airplane exited the runway to the right and impacted a fuel truck, and the
right wing separated from the airplane. The impact caused the pilot to unintentionally add max power,
and the airplane, with only the left engine functioning, ground looped to the right, coming to rest nose
down.

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2016 Collisions Other DHC-6 Twin Otter Fentress Loss of Aircraft Control TX

DHC-6 Non-Fatal Fentress, TX April 9, 2016

The pilot reported that he was landing in gusty crosswind conditions following a parachute jump flight,
and that the gusty conditions had persisted for the previous 10 skydiving flights that day. The pilot
further reported that during the landing roll, when the nose wheel touched down, the airplane became
“unstable” and veered to the left. He reported that he applied right rudder and added power to abort the
landing, but the airplane departed the runway to the left and the left wing impacted a tree. The airplane
spun 180 degrees to the left and came to rest after the impact with the tree.

Read the NTSB report.

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2015 Collisions Other DHC-6 Twin Otter Ferry FL Non-Fatal Non-Fatal Multi-Engine Preflight Sebastian

DHC-6 Non-Fatal Sebastian, FL February 9, 2015

A de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter airplane, N30EA, collided with another Twin Otter airplane, N70EA,
on the runway. The pilot of N30EA reported that, once she started the engines, the airplane rolled
forward and to the left 180 degrees because the steering-tiller had been positioned sharply to the left
when the airplane was last parked. The pilot stated that, when she applied the brakes, there was no
response, and the airplane subsequently collided with the right wing of N70EA. The pilot of N30EA
reported that, after the collision, she noted that the hydraulic circuit breaker was open; this would have
resulted in insufficient hydraulic pressure to control the parking or pedal brakes. The pilot of N30EA
said that she should have noticed that the hydraulic circuit breaker was open before she started the
engines because it was part of the Before Starting Engines checklist.

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2014 Collisions Other DHC-6 Twin Otter Non-Fatal Non-Fatal Multi-Engine

DHC-6 Non-Fatal Pepperell, MA August 23, 2014

While climbing through 2,500 feet after takeoff, the pilot observed a red-tailed hawk approaching the
airplane from below. The hawk impacted the left wing, and the pilot elected to perform a precautionary
landing. The airplane subsequently landed without incident. Postaccident examination by a Federal
Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing.

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1 2014 DHC-6 Twin Otter Fatal Fatal Multi-Engine MIddletown OH Prop Strike

DHC-6 Fatal (1) Middletown, OH June 1, 2014

The skydiving airplane was on a ramp with its engines operating while the pilot waited for passengers to
board. The pilot asked an employee of the skydiving operator if he could order something to eat for
lunch. The employee responded that she had time to come see the pilot at the airplane because she was
expecting a small delay before the next flight. The pilot thought the delay was not long enough to justify
shutting down the engines. The pilot observed the employee exit the manifest office and run toward the
airplane. The skydiving operator typically flew single-engine airplanes with the propeller located in
front of the cockpit; however, the accident airplane was a twin-engine airplane with its propellers
located under each wing. The operator’s employee subsequently walked into the operating propeller
under the airplane’s left wing, sustaining fatal injuries.

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2 2011 DHC-6 Twin Otter Fatal Fatal Multi-Engine GA Hampton Maintenance Flight

DHC-6 Fatal (2) Hampton, GA March 8, 2011

The airplane had not been flown for about 5 months and the purpose of the accident flight was a maintenance test flight after both engines had been replaced with higher horsepower models. Witnesses observed the airplane depart and complete two uneventful touch-and-go landings. The airplane was then observed to be struggling to gain altitude and airspeed while maneuvering in the traffic pattern.

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2009 Collisions Other DHC-6 Twin Otter Non-Fatal Non-Fatal Multi-Engine Orange VA

DHC-6 Non-Fatal Orange, VA June 13, 2009

The pilot stated that after the 20 skydivers left the airplane, he “descended and entered at a 45-degree angle for the downwind leg for landing on runway 08.” Once on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot stated that the “windshield began fogging up.” The pilot decided to make a 360-degree turn to the right while he wiped the window with a rag.

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2008 Baldwin DHC-6 Twin Otter Mechanical Failure Non-Fatal Non-Fatal Multi-Engine WI

DHC-6 Non-Fatal Baldwin, WI June 29, 2008

The pilot reported that there were no observed anomalies with the left wing prior to the flight. During the flight, which was conducted as a local parachute operation, the pilot performed a descending turn. The left wing’s aileron bound when the pilot attempted to level the bank. The pilot declared an emergency.

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2006 6 DHC-6 Twin Otter Fatal Fatal Multi-Engine Loss of Aircraft Control Mechanical Failure MO Sullivan

DHC-6 Fatal (6) Sullivan, MO July 29, 2006

On July 29, 2006, about 1345 central daylight time, a de Havilland DHC 6 100, N203E, registered to Adventure Aviation, LLC, and operated by Skydive Quantum Leap as a local parachute operations flight, crashed into trees and terrain after takeoff from Sullivan Regional Airport, near Sullivan, Missouri. The pilot and five parachutists were killed, and two parachutists were seriously injured.

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2005 DHC-6 Twin Otter Loss of Aircraft Control Non-Fatal Non-Fatal Multi-Engine OH Rittman Training

DHC-6 Non-Fatal Rittman, OH June 4, 2005

Rittman, OHThe purpose of the flight was for the second pilot to perform an evaluation of the first pilot, who was recently designated by the operator as a backup pilot. Following several successful flights with and without passengers, the pilots discussed single engine operations, and the first pilot reduced the right engine’s power to flight idle and feathered the propeller.

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1 2005 Collisions Other Deland DHC-6 Twin Otter Fatal Fatal Multi-Engine FL

DHC-6 Fatal (1) DeLand, FL April 23, 2005

The pilot stated that after the 14 jumpers left the airplane at 13,500 feet, southwest of the airport, he started his descent to the northeast. He approached the airport from the northeast overflew the airport, and made a left turn to enter the downwind leg for runway 23. He saw some parachutes on the ground and some in the air.

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2001 DHC-6 Twin Otter IL Non-Fatal Non-Fatal Multi-Engine Ottawa Prop Strike

DHC-6 Non-Fatal Ottawa, IL June 15, 2001

After landing at night and stopping on the ramp, a passenger was seriously injured after walking into the propeller blade after exiting the aircraft.

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1 2001 DHC-6 Twin Otter Fatal Fatal Multi-Engine Fentress Formation Flying Mid Air Prop Strike TX

DHC-6 Fatal (1) Fentress, TX May 27, 2001

A de Havilland DHC-6 and a Beech King Air 90 were to make a formation air drop of skydivers from 14,000 feet msl. The de Havilland was to be the lead aircraft with the King Air in trail. As the skydivers prepared to exit, the King Air was traveling faster than the de Havilland, and the pilot of the King Air had to pitch up and bank right to avoid the de Havilland.

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1 2000 DHC-6 Twin Otter Fatal Fatal Multi-Engine Ferry NC Raleigh

DHC-6 Fatal (1) Raleigh, NC July 31, 2000

The flight had proceeded without incident until a visual approach was made to the destination airport, but a landing was not completed because of poor visibility due to ground fog. The pilot then requested vectors to another airport, and was advised by ATC that he was below radar coverage, and he could not be radar identified. The pilot stated he would proceed to a third airport;

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1 1997 DHC-6 Twin Otter Fatal Fatal Multi-Engine Prop Strike

DHC-6 Fatal (1) Prop Strike Elberta, AL Nov 8, 1997

During the loading of 17 parachutists, a 31-year-old male parachutist notified the loader/jump master that on his next jump he would have a smoke canister on the airplane and that the pilot should be notified.

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1997 DHC-6 Twin Otter Fuel Exhaustion Non-Fatal Non-Fatal Multi-Engine

DHC-6 Non-Fatal Sussex, NJ July 23, 1997

The pilot departed on a 15-minute positioning flight. About 4 miles from the destination, both engines lost power, and the pilot landed in an open field, where the airplane struck trees. The pilot reported he departed with about 800 pounds of fuel on board, and thought the gauges indicated about 300 pounds remaining when the power loss occurred.

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1 1996 DHC-6 Twin Otter Fatal Fatal Multi-Engine Prop Strike

DHC-6 Fatal (1) Raeford, NC April 27, 1996

The flight returned from dropping parachutists, and the pilot left the engines running as the next load of parachutists loaded. A passenger, who had ridden on the previous flight, was instructed by the pilot to exit through the rear door and that ground personnel would direct her.

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1 1995 Collisions Other DHC-6 Twin Otter Fatal Fatal Multi-Engine

DHC-6 Fatal (1) Belen, NM July 23, 1995

During an attempted freestyle jump from 10,500 feet msl, the parachutist gripped a bar in the airplane, then swung his legs outside and let go. During this attempted exit, the parachutist hit his head on the doorway floor.

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16 1992 DHC-6 Twin Otter Fatal Fatal Multi-Engine Fuel Contamination Preflight

DHC-6 Fatal (16) Perris, CA April 22, 1992

The ground loader had fueled the airplane from the airport fuel truck. He stated that the flight crew did not sump the fuel tanks after they were fueled. Immediately after takeoff the right engine lost power, the right wing lowered to about 90 deg, and the airplane impacted the ground adjacent to the runway. Then forward fuel tank, which provides fuel to the right engine, was found to contain about 8 gals of a heavily contaminated mixture composed of water,

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1990 DHC-6 Twin Otter Improper/Poor Maintenance Non-Fatal Non-Fatal Multi-Engine

DHC-6 Non-Fatal Perris Valley, CA December 9, 1990

After lift-off, at about 100 ft agl and 85 kts, the left eng decelerated and the airplane began to yaw and roll left. The pic aborted the takeoff, turned left and landed on a flat level field. The airplane struck a fence, then trees. Examination of the left eng revealed the loss of power was attributed to a fatigue fracture of a compressor turbine blade, which led to subsequent blade fractures. The right eng was examined and found to have advance wear on the throttle cam assembly of the power turbine governor. In a test cell, only aprx 28% of takeoff power could be achieved. The cam lobe wear had progressed over an extended period of time. The right engine prop governor was replaced 11/18/90, followed by a test run.

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1990 Collisions Other DHC-6 Twin Otter Non-Fatal Non-Fatal Multi-Engine

DHC-6 Non-Fatal Mid-Air California City, CA August 22, 1990

Both aircraft were involved in a movie operation with the helicopter (n250ca) carrying a camerman. The dhc-6 (n203e) carried parachutists. The purpose of the operation was to photograph the parachutists exiting the jump aircraft. The pilot of n250ca said he was in formation with n203e and was maneuvering into camera position when the rotor blades contacted the vertical stabilizer and rudder of n203e. The pilot of n203e was not in a position to have visual contact with the helicopter.

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1 1983 DHC-6 Twin Otter Fatal Fatal Multi-Engine Prop Strike

DHC-6 Fatal (1) McKinney, TX April 2, 1983

Three observers accompanied the aircrew & other passengers on a flt to transport skydivers aloft. Prior to the flt, all 3 of the observers were briefed not to exit the acft until the engines were secured. However, 1 of the 3 discussed the need to move a cessna 172 at the completion of the flt. After returning from the flt, the aircrew stopped the plane on the ramp. While the engines were still running, the occupant that wanted to move the cessna exited the acft. Unbeknown to him & the plt, the other 2 occupants also exited the acft. One of them walked into the arc of the left propeller & received a fatal head injury.

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