TWINOTTERARCHIVE master index

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msn 314
DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 300
C-GKBD
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msn 314

Series 300

FAP-300 • (C-FJJL) • C-GKBD • HK-3538X

C-GKBD

• Registration • Activity and details of Owner/Operator and other historical information

FAP-300 de Havilland Canada Inc., Downsview, ON. Rolled out 21-Apr-1971. First flight May-1971.

FAP-300 Peruvian Air Force / Fuerza Aérea del Peru. Escuadron De Transporte 421.

Departed Downsview 07-May-1971, but returned 13-May-1971 for float repairs, departed again 14-May-1971.

Accident: Location and details unknown 02-Feb-1976. Written off. Remains transported back to Calgary, AB and rebuilt Mar-1979.

(C-FJJL) Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB. Regd but NTU 08-May-1979.

C-GKBD Rolled out after rebuild Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB. Regd 11-May-1979.

Noted at Calgary, AB 29-Nov-1979 following rebuild, in full Kenn Borek colour scheme.

C-GKBD Leased to Empire Airways, Hayden Lake, ID. Regd May-1987.

Noted at Redding, CA 18-Aug-1987 operating for U.S. Forest Service.

C-GKBD Returned to Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB. Regd Oct-1987.

C-GKBD Leased to Air BC (AC Connector) (f/n 067). Regd 30-Nov-1987.

C-GKBD Returned to Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB. Regd Dec-1987.

C-GKBD Leased to Harbour Air, Vancouver, BC. Regd 10-May-1988.

C-GKBD Returned to Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB. Regd 13-Sep-1988.

C-GKBD Leased to Harbour Air, Vancouver, BC. Regd May-1989.

C-GKBD Returned to Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB. Regd Nov-1989.

HK-3538X Leased to ACES - Aerolineas Centrales Colombia, Regd 23-Dec-1990. (Poss Jan-1990).

Noted at Calgary, AB 23-Jan-1990 in Kenn Borek c/s & ACES titles.

C-GKBD Returned to Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB. Regd 26-Feb-1992.

C-GKBD Leased to Adventure Network International, Antarctica. Regd 30-Sep-1992.

C-GKBD Returned to Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB. Regd 01-Mar-1993.

CADORS 24-May-1993. The aircraft observed taxiing east at 20kts by SCARS C-130. Wing of Twin Otter passed over nose of C130. No damage/injuries

C-GKBD Leased to Adventure Network International. Regd 24-Oct-1993.

C-GKBD Returned to Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB. Regd 1994.

C-GKBD Leased to Harbour Air, Vancouver, BC. Regd 06-Aug-1994.

C-GKBD Returned to Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB. Regd -Oct-1994.

C-GKBD Leased to Adventure Network International operating for Italian National Antarctic Program. Regd Nov-1994.

Accident: Rothera Station, Antarctica 24-Nov-1994. The Twin Otter took off from Rothera Station runway 18 for a flight to Terranova Bay, Antarctica. The aircraft needed a 408m ground run before becoming airborne, reaching a height of 100 feet. The Twin Otter then began to descend and flew into a 30m high iceberg The DHC-6 MTOW was 12.500 lb, while the accident aircraft had a weight of 18.500 lb. The crew had just performed two 7-hour flights with just 2 hours rest in between.  Two crew and two passengers killed. Aircraft written off.

See the official accident report by the British AAIB. Too long for this document but very interesting to read.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422f0b3ed915d1371000305/DHC-6-300_Twin_Otter__C-GKBD_02-95.pdf

Note: Adventure Network International (ANI) was a Canadian company (now based in Salt Lake City) with a sales office in Beaconsfield, England that operated in Antarctica in support of mainly private sector activities and participated in the development of Antarctic Tourism. 1993/4 was the ninth season of the company operating in Antarctica using a Lockheed L-382G Hercules leased from Safair their own Cessna 185 which remained on the continent and two Twin Otters, one of which was C-GKBD flown by Capt. J. C. Armstrong. The aircraft operated out of Punta Arenas, Chile with an Antarctic base at Patriot Hills and a satellite camp at the base of the Vinson Massif the highest mountain in Antarctica.

Written off

300 on the dolly at Downsview.
Photo: Al Fleury © 05 May 1971 - Adrian M. Balch Collection - Aird Archives
Photo: Sheldon D. Benner © 05 May 1971 - Aird Archives
300 down at Toronto Island testing out floats.
Photo: Sheldon D. Benner © 07 May 1971 - Michael J. Ody Collection
300 five days later, still at Toronto Island launch ramp.
Photo: Sheldon D. Benner © 12 May 1971 - Michael J. Ody Collection
C-GKBD of Empire Airways "11" at Redding Municipal - KRDD, California.
Photo: Henry Tenby © 18 August 1987 - Michael J. Ody Collection
C-GKBD AirBC "067" at Vancouver - CYVR.
Photo: D. Dunsmore © December 1987 - Michael J. Ody Collection
C-GKBD in HARBOUR AIR service, at Vancouver.
Photo: Anthony J. Hickey © September 1988 - Michael J. Ody Collection
HK-3538X in Colombian marks at Calgary - CYYC, Alberta.
Photo: Anthony J. Hickey © February 1990 - Michael J. Ody Collection
C-GKBD with small Adventure Network International titles.
Photo: D. Dunsmore © March 1994 - Michael J. Ody Collection
C-GKBD back in Kenn Borek Air titles at Calgary.
Photo: D. Dunsmore © October 1995 - Michael J. Ody Collection