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msn 783
DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 300
VP-FBB
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783

Series 300

C-GDKL (3)

VP-FBB

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

• C-GDKL (3) de Havilland Canada Inc., Downsview, ON. Rolled out date 05-Mar-1982. First flight date unknown

• VP-FBB Delivered to BAS British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK.,19-Mar-1982.

Note: Handed over to BAS but remained in Canada until arriving at Fairoaks, UK on 01-Jun-1982.

• VP-FBB Leased to JEA-Jersey European Airways, Jersey, Channel Islands 06-Jul-1982.

• VP-FBB Returned to BAS-British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK., 02-Aug-1982.

• VP-FBB Leased to SPRI-Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge, UK., 08-Apr-1983.

• VP-FBB Returned to BAS-British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK., 10-May-1983.

Incident: Rothera Station, Antarctica on Oct-1985. Damaged by freak gale and back in Seriesvice early Nov-1985 due to speedy provision of spares.

Note: Seen at MAGEC / HPB Aviation Paint shop. Leavesden, UK., Aug 1991. (Airfield since closed down).

Note: Seen at the Guernsey, Anglo Normandy Hangers. Apr-2002.

Note: Seen at Florianapolis, Brazil, 15-Mar-2005.

Accident: Rothera Research Station, Antarctica. 07-Nov-2011. The aircraft was returning from a routine re-supply flight to Fossil Bluff, a remote field station situated on Alexander Island on the Antarctic Peninsula. The wind for the approach was reported as 360°/10 kt at the Rothera runway anemometer and 070°/20 knots at the area anemometer. The pilot was familiar with this type of condition and decided to make an approach to runway 36 using 20-25 degrees of flap. There was some turbulence on the approach and after landing the pilot had difficulty maintaining directional control and carried out a go-around from the runway. The pilot then decided to make an approach to runway 18, and if necessary, carry out another go-around. The second approach to Rothera appeared normal and touchdown was about 200 metres along the runway. After touchdown the pilot applied some braking, full right rudder, and full left aileron to keep the aircraft straight and the wings level. Bearing in mind that he might have to carry out another go-around from the runway, the pilot used little or no reverse thrust. Initially directional control appeared adequate, but as the aircraft approached the mid-point of the runway it started to veer to the left and at some point the pilot attempted to use nosewheel steering to assist with directional control. Shortly thereafter he decided to carry out a go-around, but the aircraft veered further left. The nosewheel detached and the aircraft tipped to the right to the point where the right wing touched the runway surface and the aircraft flipped over in a forward somersault pivoting about the nose and the right wing tip. The aircraft rapidly came to a halt, inverted, about 520 metres from the runway threshold. The pilot and his passenger, who was seated in the right pilot's seat, attempted without success to shut down the engines using the fuel levers. They vacated the aircraft through the right cockpit window having suffered minor abrasions and some bruising.

Noted at Springbank, AB., Oct-2010.

Ferried 10-Mar-2012 Cozumel, Mexico - Houston-Sugarland, TX 11-Mar-2012 Houston-Sugarland, TX - Liberal, KS - Casper, WY 12-Mar-2012 Casper, WY - Calgary-Int'l, AB. Presumed returning from summer season in Antarctica.

Flew 19-Oct-2017 Springbank – Casper-Natrona, WY., en route to Antarctica.

Flew Springbank, AB - Casper-Natrona, WY and Garden City, KS between 11 and 20 Oct-2019 en route to Antarctica for the 2019-2020 season.

• Current •

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C-GDKL for the BRITISH ANTARCTIC SURVEY at Downsview.
Photo: Unknown photographer © March 1982 - John Mounce Collection - Aird Archives
VP-FBB at Fairoaks - EGTF, United Kingdom.
Photo: Brian Lockstone © September 1987 - John Mounce Collection - Aird Archives
VP-FBB at Port Stanley - SFAL, Falkland Islands.
Photo: Gus Liney © 17 October 2002 - Aird Archives
VP-FBB of British Antarctic Survey at Springbank - CYBW, Alberta.
Photo: Kenneth I. Swartz © 29 September 2014
VP-FBB at Springbank, Alberta.
Photo: Lenn Bayliss © 22 July 2017 - Aird Archives