Federal investigators have determined that a plane crash on British Columbia’s central coast was caused by the use of fuel contaminated with water, leading to the failure of both engines. According to the Transportation Safety Board’s report, the incident involving a Wilderness Seaplanes Ltd. Grumman Goose seaplane occurred on December 18, 2023, shortly after taking off from Bella Bella, B.C.
Fortunately, the pilot and passengers onboard only suffered minor injuries, but the plane sustained significant damage during the forced landing. The investigation revealed that the plane was refuelled from a drum that had been improperly stored, allowing water to infiltrate the fuel.
Furthermore, the report highlighted the absence of specific procedures for drum fuelling and the normalization of omitting fuel sampling, which created opportunities for contaminated fuel to enter the aircraft’s systems.
In response to the incident, the local fuelling services operator has implemented mandatory sampling for fuel from sources other than designated tanks or fuel trucks. Additionally, the seaplane’s operator has installed clear containers in their planes to facilitate easier fuel sampling for pilots.