Created Thursday, Aug 8th 2024 17:22Z, last updated Thursday, Aug 8th 2024 17:22Z
An Island Aviation Service de Havilland DHC-6-300 on floats, registration 8Q-ISI performing a flight from Male to Orivaru (Maldives) with 11 passengers and 3 crew, was on approach to Orivaru but was unable to land in Orivaru due to adverse weather conditions, the crew decided to return to Male. In the meantime Male had closed for VFR traffic prompting the crew to divert to KudaHura where the aircraft landed safely. The aircraft subsequently attempted to depart for Male, during the takeoff run hit a swell causing the aircraft to briefly become airborne then fall into the water hitting the left wing, left engine and the left propeller. The crew encountered difficulty to control the aircraft but managed to bring the aircraft to stop upright on its floats and taxied the aircraft to a floating platform where the passengers disembarked. There were no injuries.
Maldives' AICC rated the occurrence and accident reporting the aircraft sustained damage to its left wing including rib damage, fore flap damaged, aileron and trim tab damaged as well as damage to the left hand engine and propeller with all 3 propeller blades bent and seized, engine exhaust cracked, cowling misaligned, engine nacelle O/B longeron cracked, engine nacelle I/B longeron cracked, fuselage nose section 100 cracked. The accident is being investigated by the AICC.
