Narrative:
The Otter broke up in flight while being test flown at 4,000 feet in conditions of severe turbulence.
The Court of Inquiry found that structural failure had occurred due to fatigue, as the aircraft had been operated for most of its life under gusty and turbulent conditions.
According to dhc-3archive.com, a DHC technical representative inspected the wreckage. It appeared a wing had broken off, striking the tail. The tail plane then separated. He concluded that "catastrophic damage was incurred due to elevator tab flutter mechanism. Failure of the elevator caused loss of control, which permitted the aircraft to roll or 'bunt' over on its back, causing the wing to break in negative bending with subsequent destruction of the entire empennage and rear fuselage section".
» WarbirdsofIndia.com
| Status: | |
| Date: | Saturday 11 May 1968 |
| Type: |  de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter |
| Operator: | Indian Air Force - IAF |
| Registration: | IM-1719 |
| MSN: | 220 |
| First flight: | 1958 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3256 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | near Saharanpur-Sarasawa Air Base ( India)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Saharanpur-Sarasawa Air Base (VISP), India |
| Saharanpur-Sarasawa Air Base (VISP), India |
The Otter broke up in flight while being test flown at 4,000 feet in conditions of severe turbulence.
The Court of Inquiry found that structural failure had occurred due to fatigue, as the aircraft had been operated for most of its life under gusty and turbulent conditions.
According to dhc-3archive.com, a DHC technical representative inspected the wreckage. It appeared a wing had broken off, striking the tail. The tail plane then separated. He concluded that "catastrophic damage was incurred due to elevator tab flutter mechanism. Failure of the elevator caused loss of control, which permitted the aircraft to roll or 'bunt' over on its back, causing the wing to break in negative bending with subsequent destruction of the entire empennage and rear fuselage section".
Sources:
» dhc-3archive.com» WarbirdsofIndia.com
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This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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