# NTSB SEA01LA081: de Havilland DHC-2, N6781L, Seattle, WA, April 30, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 30, 2001, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Seattle, WA - Coordinates: 47.629199, -122.319335 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6292&lon=-122.3193&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 52185 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA01LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52185/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA081 ## Probable cause The high wind conditions encountered as the aircraft began its takeoff roll. Contributing factors were the variable and gusty wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, takeoff - roll/run - weather condition - high wind (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - variable wind (contributing factor) ## Analysis The left seat pilot, who was undergoing training, accompanied by the right seat pilot (both pilots were instructors), taxied the floatplane out for departure. The aircraft was turned into the wind and takeoff power was beginning to be applied when the aircraft's right wing was picked up by a wind gust. The aircraft momentarily became airborne, pivoted and impacted the water slowly nosing over. A cold front was passing through the Puget Sound area shortly before the accident and strong, gusty winds out of the south were recorded at all Puget Sound stations in the area near the time of the accident. The pilot reported that the wind at the time of the accident was from 150 degrees at 25 knots with gusts to 43 knots. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 30, 2001, approximately 1330 Pacific daylight time, a DeHavilland DHC-2 floatplane, N6781L, registered to and being operated by Kenmore Air Harbor, Inc., and being flown by two commercial pilots employed by the operator, was substantially damaged when the aircraft nosed over during taxi for takeoff at the north end of Lake Union, Seattle, Washington. Both pilots were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions with strong, gusty winds prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was instructional in nature, was operated under 14 CFR 91, and departed the Kenmore Seaplane Base, Lake Union, Seattle, Washington, approximately 1245. The flight was destined for Kenmore's Lake Washington Seaplane Base at the north end of Lake Washington, Seattle, Washington. The pilot occupying the left seat reported that he was on a training flight with the right seat pilot in preparation for conducting Part 135 operations with the operator. He stated that the aircraft was turned into the wind at the north end of Lake Union in preparation for takeoff, and that full power was just beginning to be applied. A gust of wind picked up the right wing and the aircraft rapidly pivoted, became airborne and then impacted the water in a nose down attitude. The aircraft then nosed back up, decelerated and slowly nosed over to an inverted position during which the two pilots egressed. A cold front was passing through the Puget Sound area shortly before the accident and strong, gusty winds out of the south were recorded at all Puget Sound stations in the area near the time of the accident. The winds at specific times were reported as follows: Boeing Field 1253PDT 180 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 22 knots Seattle International 1256PDT 200 degrees at 17 knots gusting to 23 knots Renton Municipal 1253PDT 170 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 24 knots Paine Field (Everett) 1253PDT 170 degrees at 21 knots gusting to 32 knots Peak winds of 35 knots were recorded in the early afternoon at both Everett and Seattle. The pilot reported that the wind at the time of the accident was from 150 degrees at 25 knots with gusts to 43 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6781L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6781L-2019-07-08), registration cancelled 2019-07-08, S/N 788, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-2 - Registry model: [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-beaver-dhc-2-mk-1) (registry code 2800102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 788 - Airframe hours: 16470 - Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kenmore Air Harbor, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 27, 2001, 12 hours before - Departed: WA57, Seattle, WA - Destination: S60, Seattle, WA - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: WA57, Lake Union Air Service SPB ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 41; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 20, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 684 total, 10 in this make and model, 573 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Check pilot; age 32; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 18, 2000; seat: right; flight hours: 5,260 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 5,100 as pilot in command, 115 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 12 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,800 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: BFI, 6 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010430010529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010430010529A), Apr 30, 2001: Dhav DHC2MK1, Seattle, WA, No damage. (-23)According to pilot statements, winds at the time of the accident were out of the south at 25 knots with higher gusts, and one (1) foot swells exited on… ## Other investigations on N6781L (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB WPR16LA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA189), Sep 30, 2016: Dehavilland Beaver DHC 2 MK.1 (N6781L), Lopez Island, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to land in an area of low visibility and ground fog, which resulted in collision with water. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.