Summary
On July 21, 2017, a Dehavilland DHC 2 (N364RA) was involved in an incident near Dilllingham, AK. All 3 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to set the wing flaps to the "takeoff" position, which resulted in a longer-than-normal takeoff run and collision with terrain.
The pilot stated that he was departing on a post-maintenance flight check in a float-equipped airplane from a short waterlane, at a remote unimproved seaplane base. While taxiing for departure, he left the wing flaps in the up position to aid in turning the airplane on the water. After aligning the airplane for the takeoff run, he applied full power and the airplane accelerated onto the step. While attempting to rotate, he realized that he had forgot to reset the wing flaps to the takeoff position. He attempted to reset the manually operated hydraulically actuated wing flaps, but the airplane impacted the waterlane's far bank sustaining substantial damage to the left wing, and left-wing strut.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC17CA038. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N364RA.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to set the wing flaps to the "takeoff" position, which resulted in a longer-than-normal takeoff run and collision with terrain.
Aircraft Information
Analysis
The pilot stated that he was departing on a post-maintenance flight check in a float-equipped airplane from a short waterlane, at a remote unimproved seaplane base. While taxiing for departure, he left the wing flaps in the up position to aid in turning the airplane on the water. After aligning the airplane for the takeoff run, he applied full power and the airplane accelerated onto the step. While attempting to rotate, he realized that he had forgot to reset the wing flaps to the takeoff position. He attempted to reset the manually operated hydraulically actuated wing flaps, but the airplane impacted the waterlane's far bank sustaining substantial damage to the left wing, and left-wing strut. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been prevented if he would have utilized the airplane's checklist or rechecked the position of the wing flaps.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC17CA038