Too deep to dive easily. Incredible how remote controlled subs can bring things to the surface these days.
Must be one of the saddest recent sonar pictures to be published.
Apparently these planes have had issues with trim tabs leading to near accidents and one crash. Sounds like the planes should be grounded and inspected.
Otters and Beavers are great airplanes, no surprise it have been upgraded and flying “forever”. There’s been some issues with structural failure on these. Again, no surprise for many-- if not most airplanes this type – are taking off and landing on water and salt water. The operators should be more careful with “regular” inspections and operations on these. So sad to see great planes be involved with such crashes. RIP whoever was flying on it, what a sad event.
Yes, but everyone has said that they are stating their opinions. And ya know what? When a plane acts like that, I think of control failure, whether cable system or actual structure.
Unless the stabilizer broke in a manner to first push the nose up… broke off… then the plane would nose dive.
The fact there is a problem, a problem many didn’t know about, people can take a look at their aircraft. Or if you are going to fly in one, make sure they know and have looked at the problem.
Sticking your head in the sand and hoping other people know of the issues, just produces more dead bodies. Had they not done the research, research the NTSB is paid to do, we wouldn’t know there is something we need to look at when getting in one of these planes to fly.
Robinson has these types of aircraft warnings published in their manuals for every pilot to read before flying one. I would say every aircraft manual should have a section describing problems that have caused crashes, be it improper pilot use of the aircraft, to mechanical issues.
This would likely assist in doing away with frivolous lawsuits that are causing manufacturers to shy away from making GA aircraft that a normal person can afford.
I suppose the 3 previous incidents of the exact same nature and nearly same result sways a lot of thought towards the trim tabs and elevator anti servo tabs.
The sonar image is very grainy but in any case appears to show the fuselage, nose-first, upright on the floor of the Sound. It appears that the only part of the tail still attached or visible is at least part of the left stabilizer. The front is torn beyond recognition and the wings and floats are elsewhere.
And if it failed during or after the climb?