2022 Mutiny Bay DHC-3 Otter crash
{{Short description|2022 floatplane crash}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox aircraft occurrence
| image = File:N725TH-RNT-25-06-2019.jpg
| image_upright =
| alt =
| caption = N725TH, the DHC-3 Turbine Otter involved in the accident
| occurrence_type = Accident
| date = {{start date|2022|09|4}}
| summary = Loss of pitch control due to Mechanical failure caused by maintenance error
| site = Mutiny Bay, near Hansville, Washington, U.S.
| coordinates = {{coord|47.99032|-122.58502|type:event|display=inline,title}}
| aircraft_type = DHC-3 Turbine Otter
| aircraft_name =
| operator = West Isle Air operated for Friday Harbor Seaplanes
| tail_number = N725TH
| origin = Friday Harbor Seaplane Base, Friday Harbor, Washington, U.S.
| stopover =
| last_stopover =
| destination = Renton Municipal Airport, Renton, Washington, U.S.
| passengers = 9
| crew = 1
| fatalities = 10
| survivors = 0
| animal_fatalities =
| animal_injuries =
| IATA =
| ICAO =
| callsign =
| occupants =
}}
On September 4, 2022, a DHC-3 Turbine Otter single-engine floatplane on a passenger flight from Friday Harbor to Renton, Washington, U.S., crashed into the waters of Mutiny Bay near Whidbey Island, killing all ten people on board.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/09/05/whidbey-plane-crash-washington-seaplane/ |title=Puget Sound plane crash kills at least 1, with 9 missing |date=September 5, 2022 |last=Pietsch |first=Bryan |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=September 5, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/09/04/1-dead-9-missing-after-floatplane-crashes-in-puget-sound/ |title=1 dead, 9 missing after floatplane crashes in Puget Sound |date=September 5, 2022 |work=Mercury News |access-date=September 5, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/officials-to-release-names-of-victims-in-seaplane-crash-off-whidbey-island/ |title=Details emerge after deadly Whidbey Island floatplane crash |date=September 6, 2022 |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 6, 2022}} The plane was operated by West Isle Air doing business as Friday Harbor Seaplanes, a service owned by Northwest Seaplanes.{{Cite web |url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/ntsb-floatplane-crash-investigation-whidbey-island/281-563c5d71-777a-4437-833c-b3ceb66d5200|title=PSome indication floatplane took a nosedive before crashing into Puget Sound, NTSB says|date=September 6, 2022 |last= |first= |work=King5|access-date=September 7, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/10-dead-in-puget-sound-floatplane-crash|title=10 dead in Puget Sound floatplane crash |date=September 6, 2022 |publisher=PBS |access-date=September 6, 2022}}
Accident
The plane departed at 14:50 Pacific Daylight Time (21:50 UTC) from Friday Harbor and was en route to Renton Municipal Airport when reports of the crash came in at 15:11 PDT (22:11 UTC).{{Cite web |url=https://www.axios.com/2022/09/05/plane-crash-mutiny-bay-near-seattle-coast-guard|title=U.S. Coast Guard releases names of Washington plane crash victims|date=September 6, 2022 |last= |first= |work=axios|access-date=September 12, 2022}} Witnesses recalled a chaotic scene, with strong gasoline smells and said the impact "disintegrated" the airplane.{{Cite web |url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/witness-deadly-floatplane-crash-puget-sound/281-83336536-602f-4cfc-9a34-be89676ae6c0|title=Witness to deadly floatplane crash in Puget Sound describes moments before, after impact|date=September 6, 2022 |publisher=KING 5 News |access-date=September 12, 2022}}
Before the plane crashed, Northwest Seaplanes noticed a slight shift in its direction compared to the flight plan and attempted to contact the pilot. Northwest Seaplanes called emergency responders after receiving no response, and soon after, witnesses called 911 to report that the plane had nosedived into the water at high speed.{{Cite web |url=https://www.fox9.com/news/2-minnesotans-among-10-killed-in-seattle-area-plane-crash|title=Seattle-area plane crash: 2 Minnesotans among 10 victims|date=September 6, 2022 |last= |first= |work=FOX 9|access-date=September 12, 2022}}
Aircraft
The 56-year-old de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter was manufactured in 1967 by Canadian aircraft company De Havilland Canada and issued serial number 466.
Prior to being registered in the United States, the aircraft was registered C-FVQD in Canada, having been acquired and operated by several Canadian airlines, charter operators, and private owners during the first 46 years of its lifespan.
The Canadian Civil Aircraft Register shows the aircraft's Canadian registration was cancelled on November 22, 2013, and the aircraft was subsequently exported to the United States on March 6, 2014.{{Cite web| url=https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/CCARCS-RIACC/RchHs.aspx|title=C-FVQD |date=September 7, 2022|work=Canadian Aircraft Civil Register |access-date=September 7, 2022}}
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records show the aircraft was purchased in the United States by a private individual in early 2014, registered N725TH, and issued airworthiness in the United States on May 12, 2014. The aircraft was most recently registered to Northwest Seaplanes Inc., its registered owner at the time of the crash.{{Cite web|url=https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/NNumberResult?NNumbertxt=N725TH |title=N725TH | date=September 7, 2022 |work=FAA Registry N-Number Inquiry |access-date=September 7, 2022}}
Victims
All victims were American.{{Cite web| url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/whidbey-island-washington-floatplane-crash/281-70f6f30d-ca57-463c-bd40-48f8e588d5b0|title=Whidbey Island floatplane crash: Here's what we know|date=September 10, 2022|work=King 5 |access-date=September 12, 2022}} The sole crew member was pilot Jason Winters, who had decades of experience. The dead include Washington civil rights activist Sandy Williams, founder and editor of Black Lens News,{{Cite web| url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/sep/05/spokane-civil-rights-activist-sandy-williams-was-a/
|title=Spokane civil rights activist Sandy Williams was aboard plane that crashed in Puget Sound|date=September 5, 2022|work=Spokesman-Review |access-date=March 12, 2024}} as well as actress Megan Hilty's pregnant sister, brother-in-law, and nephew.{{Cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/megan-hiltys-pregnant-sister-brother-172500089.html|title=Megan Hilty's Pregnant Sister, Brother-in-Law and Their Child Die in Plane Crash|date=September 6, 2022 |work=Yahoo News|access-date=September 6, 2022}}
Investigation
File:N725TH wreckage horizontal stabilizer assembly.png
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) opened an investigation into the crash and was joined by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration vessels in the search for wreckage.{{cite news |date=September 9, 2022 |title=NTSB, NOAA continue search for floatplane wreckage in Puget Sound |url=https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/noaa-assists-search-downed-floatplane-off-whidbey-body-recovered-victim-is-identified/QERXHPYNSVA2BOJPSKXIRWHD3M/ |publisher=KIRO News |accessdate=September 12, 2022}} A side-scan sonar was deployed by the University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory and discovered large debris {{convert|190|ft|m}} below the surface that were identified as being similar to the plane.{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Sarah Grace |date=September 12, 2022 |title=Floatplane wreckage located in Mutiny Bay |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/floatplane-wreckage-located-in-mutiny-bay/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=September 12, 2022}} The NTSB worked with the US Navy to recover the wreckage using an ROV and a recovery barge.{{cite news|last=Varley|first=Len|date=September 18, 2022|title=NTSB & Navy to Recover Wreckage of Mutiny Bay Plane Crash|work=Aviation Source|url=https://aviationsourcenews.com/news/ntsb-navy-to-recover-wreckage-of-mutiny-bay-plane-crash/|accessdate=September 19, 2022}}
The aircraft had no flight data recorder nor a cockpit voice recorder, and was not required to carry them. It was, however, equipped with a Ground Proximity Warning System.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-16 |title=Aviation Investigation Preliminary Report |url=https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105855/pdf |access-date=2022-11-08 |website= |publisher=National Transportation Safety Board |id=DCA22MA193}} {{pd-notice}} It had just passed a 100-hour inspection before the crash. Further recovery efforts took place on September 26, 2022;{{Cite web |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/sep/16/plane-that-crashed-in-mutiny-bay-was-recently-serv/|title=Plane that crashed in Mutiny Bay was recently serviced, did not have flight recorder|date=September 16, 2022 |last= |first= |work=Spokesman|access-date=September 22, 2022}} this search resulted in most of the wreckage and multiple bodies being recovered.{{cite news|last=Taylor |first=Sarah Grace |date=September 29, 2022 |title=Most of Whidbey Island Plane Crash Wreckage Recovered |work=The Seattle Times |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/most-of-whidbey-island-plane-crash-wreckage-recovered/|accessdate=September 30, 2022}}
On October 24, 2022, the NTSB released an update on its investigation, stating that the horizontal stabilizer actuator had separated into two pieces at a threaded assembly fitting, which could be a contributing factor to the crash. The NTSB said that the actuator lock ring was missing from the wreckage.{{Cite web |url=https://komonews.com/news/local/national-transportation-safety-board-investigation-floatplane-mutiny-bay-plane-crash-whidbey-island-washington-killed-10-people-failed-actuator-ntsb-report|title=NTSB report points to separated actuator in Mutiny Bay floatplane crash that killed 10|date=October 24, 2022 |last= |first= |work=komonews|access-date=November 5, 2022}}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-24 |title=Aircraft Accident Investigative Update |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Documents/DCA22MA193%20Investigative%20Update.pdf |access-date=2022-11-08 |publisher=National Transportation Safety Board |id=DCA22MA193}} On October 25, 2022, Viking Air issued a service letter requiring DHC-3 Otter operators to inspect the aircraft and verify that the lock ring is properly installed.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-25 |title=DHC-3 Stabilizer Actuator Lock Ring – Special Inspection |url=https://www.krbd.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/DHC3-SL-27-001.pdf |access-date=2022-11-08 |publisher=Viking Air |id=DHC3-SL-27-001}}
The following day, on October 26, 2022, the NTSB issued urgent safety recommendations to the FAA and Transport Canada urging all DHC-3 Otter operators to inspect the horizontal stabilizer actuator lock ring and report their findings to the respective agencies.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-24 |title=Require Immediate One-Time Inspection of De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Horizontal Stabilizer Actuator |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AIR2208.pdf |access-date=2022-11-08 |publisher=National Transportation Safety Board |id=AIR-22-08}} The NTSB also recommended the immediate grounding of all DHC-3 seaplanes until further notice, citing concern that more will crash.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-25 |title=After Whidbey Crash, NTSB Wants Otter Seaplanes Grounded Pending Inspection|url=https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/business-general-aviation/news/21285008/after-whidbey-crash-ntsb-wants-otter-seaplanes-grounded-pending-inspection|access-date=2022-11-16 |publisher=Aviation Pros|id=}}
= Final report =
On September 29, 2023, the NTSB released its final report on the crash, stating that the probable cause was the loss of control of the plane due to the unthreading of the clamp nut from the horizontal stabilizer trim actuator barrel due to a missing lock ring, which resulted in the horizontal stabilizer moving to an extreme trailing-edge-down position rendering the airplane’s pitch uncontrollable.{{Cite web |title=ASN Aircraft accident de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Turbine Otter N725TH Freeland, WA |url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20220904-1 |access-date=2023-12-10 |website=aviation-safety.net}}
References
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{{Aviation accidents and incidents in 2022}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States in the 2020s}}
Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States in 2022
Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Washington (state)
Category:Accidents and incidents involving the de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter
Category:2022 in Washington (state)