De Havilland Aircraft of Canada

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

The pilot had successfully completed 10 or 12 landings in other parts of the large lake. He flew the aircraft to the southeast end of the lake and carried out a successful touch-and-go landing and initiated another circuit and approach to land in the same area. Following touchdown, the right outer wing struck the water, and the aircraft nosed over and began to sink. The pilot was able to escape from the aircraft before it submerged. The pilot held a valid Airline Transport Pilot Licence and was acquiring solo time in order to obtain a float endorsement. He had completed 6.1 hours of time on the aircraft, 3.1 of this solo time. The pilot had not reported any difficulty with the previous landings; prior to this touchdown, he had to adjust his approach slightly to the right of his intended landing path to avoid water traffic. The pilot reported that the wind was blowing from about 330° at 5 to 10 knots which would have resulted in a 20° crosswind from the right of his landing path. Weather observations taken at Muskoka Airport and North Bay Airport at about the time of the occurrence reported the wind direction and speed to be 280° true at 10 gusting to 15 knots and 240° at nine knots respectively. Ahmic Lake is equidistant from these two airports, that is about 35 miles from each. Using these reported winds, this would result in a crosswind component of between 30 and 70° from the left. Damage to the aircraft's right wing and float suggested that, on touchdown, the aircraft may have been drifting to the right, resulting in the right float ploughing into the water, followed by the right wing striking the surface of the lake. Careful examination of the damaged right float confirmed that there was no evidence of collision with a floating or submerged object. The float bow had been driven upwards and inwards, resulting in overload failures in the float structure ahead of the spreader strut attachments. This damage pattern is consistent with that which would result from hydrodynamic forces acting on the float structure at touchdown with the aircraft in in a slightly nose-down attitude and drifting to the right. Damage to the right wing was also due to water impact. All float attach brackets and struts had failed under overload conditions when the aircraft nosed over. The pilot had limited experience on float-equipped aircraft and may not have recognized drift or wind direction prior to touchdown. The lake was large enough for an into wind landing. No faults were found in the aircraft's control systems or float structure which would have contributed to the accident. The damage pattern indicated that the aircraft touched down in a slightly nose-down attitude, drifting to the right. Hydrodynamic forces acting on the right float following touchdown resulted in the right outer wing striking the water. The aircraft, as a result, nosed over and sank. Source: www.dhc-2.com

De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo

During the 1984 Farnborough International Air Display de Havilland Canada was to fly a display using DHC-5D C-GCTC, DHC-6 Twin Otter C-GFJQ, and both Dash 7 and Dash 8 prototypes C-GNBX and C-GDNK. Brakes were released at 16:16 and the Buffalo commenced its takeoff run as the third aircraft in the DHC combine behind the Dash 7 and Dash 8. Immediately after takeoff the Buffalo carried out a steep climb to a height of 1000 feet agl. Following a descending turn to the right, the airplane carried out a low level flypast along the display line at height of 250 feet agl and an airspeed of 215 kts. The Buffalo then entered a climbing turn to the left through about 270 degrees, before reversing bank in order to position for a right hand final approach for a STOL landing back onto runway 25. During this manoeuvre the landing gear was selected down and the copilot lowered the ramp and opened the rear cargo door. At a height of 450 feet agl the nose dropped significantly and the rate of descent increased. The DHC-5 continued in a steep side-slipping and descending turn to the right. Shortly before touchdown the rate of descent reduced slightly. The aircraft then landed very hard. The nose gear collapsed, both wings failed and the propellers disintegrated after contacting the runway. Debris caused some damage to vehicles and three aircraft in the static display area.

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada dispatched an aircraft in Africa to complete demo flights to potential customers. In Monze, the crew was engaged in a local demo flight for the Zambian Air Force, carrying several Zambian AF Officers and DH employees. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the right engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed one km from the runway end. A Canadian pilot who was not flying, Christian Jolivet, was severely burnt and a Zambian military personnel survived. All nine other occupants were killed.

De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou

The crew was completing a test flight on this third model of the Caribou which should be delivered to the US Army. While flying in the vicinity of Udora, Ontario, the crew lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a field. Both crew members were seriously injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

De Havilland DH.104 Dove

The crew was performing a delivery flight from Bluie West One Airfield (Narsarsuaq) to Goose Bay. On final approach, the pilot-in-command encountered difficulties due to poor weather conditions. The twin engine airplane hit the ground short of runway threshold and crashed. Both occupants were killed.