fbpx
Wikipedia

de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter

The de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter is a single-engined, high-wing, propeller-driven, short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada. It was conceived to be capable of performing the same roles as the earlier and highly successful Beaver, including as a bush plane, but is overall a larger aircraft.

DHC-3 Otter
A DHC-3T Turbine Otter
Role STOL utility transport
Manufacturer de Havilland Canada
First flight 12 December 1951
Introduction 1953
Status Active
Produced 1951–1967
Number built 466
Developed from DHC-2 Beaver
Developed into DHC-6 Twin Otter

Design and development edit

The rugged single-engined, high-wing, propeller-driven DHC-3 Otter was conceived in January 1951 by de Havilland Canada as a larger, more powerful version of its highly successful DHC2 Beaver STOL utility transport. Dubbed the "King Beaver" during design, it would be the veritable "one-ton truck" to the Beaver's "half-ton" role.[1]

The Otter received Canadian certification in November 1952 and entered production shortly thereafter. Using the same overall configuration as the Beaver, the new, much heavier design incorporated a longer fuselage, greater-span wing, and cruciform tail. Seating in the main cabin expanded from six to 10 or 11. Power was supplied by a 450-kW (600 hp) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 geared radial. The version used in the Otter was geared for lower propeller revolutions and consequently lower airspeed. The electrical system was 28 volts D.C.

Like the Beaver, the Otter can be fitted with skis or floats. The Otter served as the basis for the very successful Twin Otter, which features two wing-mounted Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 turboprops. A total of 466 Otters were manufactured.[2]

Operational use edit

 
U.S. Army U-1A, July 1967 Hue Citadel Airfield, Republic of Vietnam
 
Otter on floats, powered by a PZL Kalisz ASz-62IR with four blade propeller
 
F/L Lynn Garrison and crew with UNEF Otter, Sinai, 1962
 
Turbo Otter on wheel-skis
 
U.S. Navy U-1B (UC-1) Otter at NAS Pensacola, Florida, in 2002
 
Otter with turbine engine conversion, covered against the cold on Mistassini lake, Mistissini, Quebec

The DHC-3/CC-123/CSR-123 Otter was used until 1980 by the Royal Canadian Air Force and its successor, the Air Command of the Canadian Forces. It was used in Search and Rescue, as the "CSR" denotes Canadian Search (and) Rescue (type 123) and as a light utility transport, "CC" denoting Canadian Cargo. During the Suez Crisis, the Canadian government decided to provide assistance to the United Nations Emergency Force and the Royal Canadian Navy carrier HMCS Magnificent carried 4 Otters from Halifax to Port Said in Egypt early in 1957, with all four flying off unassisted while the ship was at anchor.[3] This was the only occasion when RCAF fixed wing aircraft operated from a Canadian warship.[3] It was also operated on EDO floats on water and skis for winter operations on snow. The EDO floats also had wheels for use on runways (amphibious). It was used as army support dropping supplies by parachute, and also non-parachute low-speed, low-altitude air drops, to support the Canadian Army on manoeuvres. In the end it was operated by the Primary Air Reserve in Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton and Winnipeg, with approximately 10 aircraft at each base, as well as by the RSU (Regular (Forces) Support Units) at those bases. It was usually flown with a single pilot (Commissioned Officer) in the left seat and a Technical Air Crewman (NCO) in the right seat. The Kiowa helicopter replaced it in Air Reserve squadrons.

Although the Otter found ready acceptance in bush airlines, as in a similar scenario to the DHC-2 Beaver, the United States Army soon became the largest operator of the aircraft (184 delivered as the U-1A Otter). Other military users included Australia, Canada, and India, but the primary role of the aircraft as a rugged bush plane continues to this day.

An Otter crossed the South Pole in 1957 (see Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition). The Otter is also popular in the skydiving community and can be found in many drop zones throughout the world.

Otters were used by Qantas from 1958 to 1960 in Papua New Guinea. The Qantas aircraft were then transferred to Trans Australian Airlines (TAA), a major Australian domestic airline, which operated the Otters in Papua New Guinea until 1966 when they were withdrawn from use. TAA was merged with Qantas in 1990.

Modifications edit

The most extensively modified Otter was RCAF Otter 3682. After initial service as a standard Search and Rescue aircraft it was used to explore the aerodynamic aspects of STOL. In 1958, it was fitted with flaps so outsized that, with their 45 degree droop, it became known as the Batwing Otter. In addition, its tail-wheel undercarriage was replaced with a high energy-absorption 4-wheel arrangement and a very high vertical tail. The next modification replaced the flaps with fully retractable flaps suitable for cruising flight and high drag was obtained with reverse thrust from a J85 turbojet installed in the fuselage behind the cockpit. The third configuration looked a lot like the future Twin Otter and was the first twin-PT6 fixed-wing installation to fly in May 1963 (A twin PT6-engined helicopter, the Kaman K-1125, had flown in April 1963). The piston engine in the nose was replaced with wing-mounted engines to blow over the flaps.[4][5][6]

Stolairus Aviation of Kelowna, BC, has developed several modifications for the DHC-3 including a STOL Kit, which modifies the wing with a contoured leading edge and drooped wingtips for increased performance. Stolairus has also developed a 180 kilograms (400 lb) "upgross" kit which increases the gross weight of the DHC-3 to 3,795 kilograms (8,367 lb) on floats.[7]

Some aircraft were converted to turbine power using a PT6A, Walter 601 (manufactured in the Czech Republic), or Garrett/Honeywell TPE331-10, by Texas Turbine Conversions. The Walter M601E-11 Turbine Engine conversion is manufactured and installed by Stolairus Aviation.

A Polish PZL radial engine has also been fitted. Re-engined aircraft have been offered since the 1980s by Airtech Canada as the DHC-3/1000 using current-production 1,000 hp (745 kW) PZL ASz-62 IR radials.[8]

Variants edit

DHC-3 Otter
Single-engined STOL utility transport aircraft.
CSR-123 Otter
STOL utility transport aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
YU-1 Otter
Six test and evaluation aircraft for the U.S. Army.
U-1A Otter
STOL utility transport aircraft for the U.S. Army.
UC-1 Otter
STOL utility transport aircraft for the United States Navy. Later redesignated U-1B Otter in 1962.
DHC-3-T Turbo-Otter
Otters fitted with either Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 or Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 turboprop engine.
Airtech Canada DHC-3/1000 Otter
Conversions powered by PZL Kalisz ASz-62IR engines.[8]
Texas Turbines Super Otter
Turbine conversion powered by a 900 shp (671 kW) Garret TPE331 turboprop engine
Aerotech Industries
Turbine conversion powered by a 900shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-140A turboprop engine.[1]

Military operators edit

  Argentina
  Australia
  • Royal Australian Air Force: Two Otters (RAAF serial A100-1 and 2) were in service with the RAAF from 1961 to 1967. The aircraft were used for passenger and freight transport duties at the Weapons Research Establishment, Woomera, South Australia.
    • No. 1 Air Trials Unit
  Bangladesh
  Burma
  Canada
  Chile
  Costa Rica
  Ethiopia
  Ghana
  • Ghana Air Force – acquired 12 Otters (G300 – G311), in service 1961-1973 (serial number: 413, 414, 416, 418, 420, 422, 424, 425, 426, 428, 430, 431).[9]
    • 4 aircraft had to be written off, 8 aircraft were sold in 1973.
      • G300 (s/n 413) crashed on 21 June 1968 in the jungle in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana and was destroyed.
      • G301 (s/n 414) crashed on 31 August 1961 at Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana and was destroyed.
      • G302 (s/n 416) crashed on the beach near Takoradi on a date unknown and was destroyed. It was on floats at the time, on a training detail.
      • G308 (s/n 426) was written off in service.
  India
  Indonesia
  Khmer Republic
  New Zealand
  Nicaragua
  Nigeria
  Norway
  Panama
  Paraguay
  Philippines
  Tanzania
  United Kingdom
  United States

Civil operators edit

 
DHC-3-T Turbo Otter on Lake Union, Seattle, WA
  Australia
  Canada
  Norway
  Philippines
  United States
  Fiji
  New Zealand

Accidents edit

As of June 2019, there have been 119 incidents and accidents involving the DHC-3 resulting in 242 deaths.[12] Listed below are a select few of the most notable ones.

  • In 1956, two military Otters broke up in mid-air. One had taken off from Downsview and the other from Goose Bay. The Otter requires immediate use of elevator trim to counteract the strong change in pitch caused by the retraction or extension of the flaps. Investigators found that metal contamination in a hydraulic valve allowed the flaps to rapidly retract with the tailplane still fully trimmed, and the consequent nose drop was severe enough to cause structural failure. A filter was added to the flap hydraulic system and an interconnection added between the flaps and tailplane to maintain proper trim as the flaps are operated.[13]
  • On 22 June 1994, a DHC-3 Otter floatplane, N13GA, registered to and operated by Wings of Alaska of Juneau, Alaska, crashed into the Taku Inlet, 12 miles east of Juneau. The air taxi flight had departed the Taku Lodge located on the Taku River bound for the Juneau downtown dock. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Six passengers were killed, one passenger was missing and presumed dead, and the pilot and three passengers received serious injuries. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) attributed the accident to continued VFR into IMC and the pilot's consequent failure to maintain altitude above the water surface.[14]
  • On 9 August 2010, a DHC-3T registered to Anchorage-based GCI crashed about 17 miles (27 km) north of Dillingham, Alaska, while en route to a private fishing lodge.[15] Five of the nine people on board were killed, including former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens. Surviving passengers included former NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe and his teenage son, both of whom sustained injuries.[16]
  • On 23 September 2011, a DHC-3T Turbine Otter floatplane, N361TT, sustained substantial damage during a go-around and subsequent low-altitude maneuver at Heitman Lake, about 5 miles south-southwest of Kodiak, Alaska, killing the pilot and injuring the two passengers. One of the passengers reported that during the go-around, the airplane struck a tree on the shoreline and crashed.[17]
  • On 7 July 2013, a DHC-3 Otter registered to Rediske Air, N93PC, crashed on takeoff at Soldotna Airport, Alaska, killing all ten aboard.[18] There were no surviving witnesses and the aircraft did not carry a flight data recorder, but the NTSB was able to reconstruct the aircraft's flight path using a recovered mobile phone video recorded by a passenger. The NTSB attributed the accident to a stall caused by the operator's failure to weigh cargo and verify that the aircraft was loaded within its center of gravity limits.[19]
  •  
    Debris of 2015 Promech Air crash near Ketchikan, Alaska
    On 25 June 2015, a Promech Air DHC-3 Otter crashed into the face of a granite cliff near Ella Lake, Alaska, 20 miles (32 km) northeast of Ketchikan. The aircraft carried a pilot and eight passengers who were tourists on a sightseeing excursion from a Holland America Line coastal cruise aboard the cruise ship MS Westerdam. All nine people on board died. The NTSB determined that the pilot had a history of poor decision making and that the company had a compromised culture that resulted in an "operation in which safety competed with performance and revenue".[20][21][22][23]
  • On 15 September 2015, a DHC-3 Turbine Otter floatplane carrying ten people and belonging to Rainbow King Lodge crashed on takeoff at Eastwind Lake, 1 mi (1.6 km) mile north of Iliamna, 175 mi (282 km) southwest of Anchorage. Three people were killed in the crash.[24]
  • On 13 May 2019, in the 2019 Alaska mid-air collision, a Taquan Air DHC-3 Turbine Otter floatplane, N959PA, collided with a Mountain Air Service DHC-2 Beaver, N952DB, over George Inlet, Alaska, with the loss of one passenger aboard the DHC-3 and five passengers and crew aboard the DHC-2. The NTSB attributed the accident to "'the inherent limitations of the see-and-avoid concept, along with the absence of alerts from both airplanes' traffic display systems." Due to the angle of approach, both pilots' viewpoints were partially blocked by the aircraft structure or seated passengers. The NTSB identified Taquan's inadequate preflight checklist and the Federal Aviation Administration's failure to require Taquan to implement a safety management system as contributing factors.[25]
  • On 4 September 2022, a DHC-3 floatplane operated by Friday Harbor Seaplanes, N725TH, crashed in Puget Sound near Whidbey Island, Washington, killing all ten aboard the aircraft.[26] On October 24, the NTSB announced that the horizontal stabilizer actuator had separated into two pieces at a threaded assembly fitting, and that the actuator lock ring was missing from the wreckage.[27][28] The next day, Viking Air issued a service letter requiring DHC-3 Otter operators to inspect their aircraft and ensure that the actuator's lock ring is present.[29]

Specifications (landplane) edit

 
3-view line drawing of the de Havilland Canada U-1A Otter

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958–59,[30] Jane's Civil and Military Aircraft Upgrades 1994–95[31]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1 or 2
  • Capacity: 9–11 passengers (optional 10th seat in main cabin) / 6 stretchers with 4 seats / 2-3 stretchers with 7 seats
  • Length: 41 ft 10 in (12.75 m)
  • Wingspan: 58 ft 0 in (17.68 m)
  • Height: 12 ft 7 in (3.84 m)
  • seaplane 15 ft 0 in (5 m)
  • Cabin length: 16 ft 5 in (5 m)
  • Cabin width: 5 ft 2 in (2 m)
  • Cabin height: 4 ft 11 in (1 m)
  • Cabin volume: 272 cu ft (7.7 m3)
  • Stowage compartment volume: 38 cu ft (1.1 m3)
  • Wing area: 375 sq ft (34.8 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 8.97
  • Airfoil: NACA 63A516 mod[32]
  • Empty weight: 4,108 lb (1,863 kg)
  • seaplane 4,620 lb (2,096 kg)
  • fixed skis 4,361 lb (1,978 kg)
  • wheel/ski 4,475 lb (2,030 kg)
  • Gross weight: 8,000 lb (3,629 kg)
  • seaplane 7,967 lb (3,614 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: Total fuel 178 imp gal (214 US gal; 809 L) in :- 51 imp gal (61 US gal; 232 L) front tank ; 85 imp gal (102 US gal; 386 L) middle tank group (two cells) ; 42 imp gal (50 US gal; 191 L) rear tank
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S1H1-G Wasp 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 600 hp (450 kW)
or -S3H1-G (lower supercharger gearing)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed Hamilton Standard, 10 ft 10 in (3.30 m) diameter constant-speed propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 160 mph (260 km/h, 140 kn) at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)
  • seaplane 153 mph (133 kn; 246 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)
  • skiplane 158 mph (137 kn; 254 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)
  • Cruise speed: 138 mph (222 km/h, 120 kn) 66% power at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)
  • seaplane 129 mph (112 kn; 208 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)
  • skiplane 133 mph (116 kn; 214 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)
  • Range: 960 mi (1,540 km, 830 nmi) full internal fuel at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)
  • seaplane 863 mi (750 nmi; 1,389 km) full internal fuel at 5,000 ft (1,524 m) seaplane
  • Endurance: 9 hours 24 minutes at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)
  • seaplane 8 hours 54 minutes at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)
  • Service ceiling: 18,800 ft (5,700 m) S1H1-G engine
  • 17,400 ft (5,304 m) S3H1-G engine
  • Seaplane
  • 17,900 ft (5,456 m) seaplane S1H1-G engine
  • 16,400 ft (4,999 m) seaplane S3H1-G engine
  • Skiplane
  • 18,600 ft (5,669 m) skiplane S1H1-G engine
  • 17,100 ft (5,212 m) skiplane S3H1-G engine
  • Rate of climb: 735 ft/min (3.73 m/s) at sea level
  • seaplane 650 ft/min (3.3 m/s) at sea level
  • skiplane 690 ft/min (3.5 m/s) at sea level
  • Take-off distance to 50 ft (15 m): 1,310 ft (399 m)
  • seaplane 1,980 ft (604 m)
  • Landing distance from 50 ft (15 m): 975 ft (297 m)
  • seaplane 1,510 ft (460 m)

See also edit

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Rossiter 1998, p. 55.
  2. ^ "The De Havilland DHC-3 Otter; a comprehensive information resource". dhc3otter.com. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  3. ^ a b "The Otters and the aircraft carrier". lookoutnewspaper.com. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  4. ^ https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1963/1963%20-%200073.html?search=january%20stol%20otter[dead link]
  5. ^ Power – The Pratt & Whitney Canada Story, Kenneth H. Sullivan and Larry Milberry, CANAV Books 1989, ISBN 0921022018, p. 147
  6. ^ The Universal Airplanes – Otter & Twin Otter, Sean Rossiter 1998, Douglas & McIntyre, ISBN 1550546376, pp. 13–31
  7. ^ "DHC-3 Otter." Stolairus, Retrieved: 2 February 2012.
  8. ^ a b Taylor 1988 p. 17.
  9. ^ Aird, Neil. "Master Index Otter DHC-3". dhc-3archive.com. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  10. ^ PEO (JSF) Integrated Test Facility Public Affairs (24 October 2012). "Photo: A generation of naval aviation. The F-35B Lightning II with the NU-1B Otter". Naval Air Systems Command. United States Navy. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Key West Seaplane Adventures".
  12. ^ "Accident Archives". Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  13. ^ Air Crash – The Clues in the Wreckage, Fred Jones 1985, Roobert Hale Ltd., ISBN 0709021615, pp. 104–112
  14. ^ "National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Accident Final Report Accident Number: ANC94FA070". National Transportation Safety Board. 5 June 1995. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  15. ^ Trimble, Stephen. "EADS executive survives Alaska air crash, but former senator killed." flightglobal.com, 10 August 2010. Retrieved: 10 August 2010.
  16. ^ Bohrer, Becky. "Plane crashes in Alaska kills former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, ex-NASA chief survives." 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine The Associated Press. via 680news.com, 10 August 2010. Retrieved: 10 August 2010.
  17. ^ "National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Accident Final Report Accident Number: ANC11FA107". National Transportation Safety Board. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  18. ^ 10 killed in Soldotna plane crash 2013-07-11 at the Wayback Machine, Peninsula Courier, 7 July 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  19. ^ Aviation Accident Final Report (Report). National Transportation Safety Board. 20 April 2021. DCA13MA121. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  20. ^ St. Claire, Pat (25 June 2015). "Small plane carrying cruise passengers crashes in Alaska". CNN. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  21. ^ Morrison, Greg; Payne, Ed (30 June 2015). "Authorities identify 9 people killed in Alaska plane crash". CNN. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  22. ^ Varandani, Suman (26 June 2015). "Alaska Plane Crash: 9 People Killed After Sightseeing Plane Carrying Cruise Ship Passengers Crashes". International Business Times.
  23. ^ Grady, Mary (25 April 2017). "NTSB Cites "Company Culture" In Fatal Crash". AVweb. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  24. ^ D'Oro, Rachel (15 September 2015). . Associated Press. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  25. ^ Aviation Accident Report NTSB/AAR-21/04 PB2021-100915 (PDF) (Report). National Transportation Safety Board. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  26. ^ "10 Dead After Floatplane Crashes in Western Washington". KFI AM 640. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  27. ^ "NTSB report points to separated actuator in Mutiny Bay floatplane crash that killed 10". komonews. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  28. ^ "Aircraft Accident Investigative Update" (PDF). National Transportation Safety Board. 24 October 2022. DCA22MA193. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  29. ^ "DHC-3 Stabilizer Actuator Lock Ring – Special Inspection" (PDF). Viking Air. 25 October 2022. DHC3-SL-27-001. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  30. ^ Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1958). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958–59. London: Jane's All the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd. pp. 127–128.
  31. ^ Michell 1994, p. 24.
  32. ^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

Bibliography edit

  • Hayes, Karl E. DHC-3 Otter – A History (CD-ROM). Crakaig, Killiney Hill Road, Killiney, Co. Dublin, Ireland: Karl E. Hayes Publisher, 2006. (also available via CANAV Books, Toronto)
  • Hotson, Fred W. The de Havilland Canada Story. Toronto: CANAV Books, 1983. ISBN 0-07-549483-3.
  • Michell, Simon. (ed.). Jane's Civil and Military Aircraft Upgrades 1994–95. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 1994. ISBN 0-7106-1208-7.
  • Milberry, Larry. Aviation in Canada. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-07-082778-8.
  • Molson, Ken M. and Harold A. Taylor. Canadian Aircraft Since 1909. Stittsville, Ontario: Canada's Wings, Inc., 1982. ISBN 0-920002-11-0.
  • "Pentagon Over the Islands: The Thirty-Year History of Indonesian Military Aviation". Air Enthusiast Quarterly (2): 154–162. n.d. ISSN 0143-5450.
  • Rossiter, Sean. The Immortal Beaver: The World's Greatest Bush Plane. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1999. ISBN 1-55054-724-0.
  • Rossiter, Sean. Otter & Twin Otter: The Universal Airplanes. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1998. ISBN 1-55054-637-6.
  • Sonck, Jean-Pierre (January 2002). "1964: l'ONU au Congo" [The United Nations in the Congo, 1964]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (106): 31–36. ISSN 1243-8650.
  • Sonck, Jean-Pierre (February 2002). "1964: l'ONU au Congo". Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (107): 33–38. ISSN 1243-8650.
  • Taylor, John W.R., ed. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988–89. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Defence Data, 1988. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.

External links edit

  • DHC-3archive.com
  • US Navy Otter service in Antarctica

havilland, canada, otter, single, engined, high, wing, propeller, driven, short, take, landing, stol, aircraft, developed, havilland, canada, conceived, capable, performing, same, roles, earlier, highly, successful, beaver, including, bush, plane, overall, lar. The de Havilland Canada DHC 3 Otter is a single engined high wing propeller driven short take off and landing STOL aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada It was conceived to be capable of performing the same roles as the earlier and highly successful Beaver including as a bush plane but is overall a larger aircraft DHC 3 OtterA DHC 3T Turbine OtterRole STOL utility transportManufacturer de Havilland CanadaFirst flight 12 December 1951Introduction 1953Status ActiveProduced 1951 1967Number built 466Developed from DHC 2 BeaverDeveloped into DHC 6 Twin Otter Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational use 2 1 Modifications 3 Variants 4 Military operators 5 Civil operators 6 Accidents 7 Specifications landplane 8 See also 9 References 9 1 Notes 9 2 Bibliography 10 External linksDesign and development editThe rugged single engined high wing propeller driven DHC 3 Otter was conceived in January 1951 by de Havilland Canada as a larger more powerful version of its highly successful DHC2 Beaver STOL utility transport Dubbed the King Beaver during design it would be the veritable one ton truck to the Beaver s half ton role 1 The Otter received Canadian certification in November 1952 and entered production shortly thereafter Using the same overall configuration as the Beaver the new much heavier design incorporated a longer fuselage greater span wing and cruciform tail Seating in the main cabin expanded from six to 10 or 11 Power was supplied by a 450 kW 600 hp Pratt amp Whitney R 1340 geared radial The version used in the Otter was geared for lower propeller revolutions and consequently lower airspeed The electrical system was 28 volts D C Like the Beaver the Otter can be fitted with skis or floats The Otter served as the basis for the very successful Twin Otter which features two wing mounted Pratt amp Whitney Canada PT6 turboprops A total of 466 Otters were manufactured 2 Operational use edit nbsp U S Army U 1A July 1967 Hue Citadel Airfield Republic of Vietnam nbsp Otter on floats powered by a PZL Kalisz ASz 62IR with four blade propeller nbsp F L Lynn Garrison and crew with UNEF Otter Sinai 1962 nbsp Turbo Otter on wheel skis nbsp U S Navy U 1B UC 1 Otter at NAS Pensacola Florida in 2002 nbsp Otter with turbine engine conversion covered against the cold on Mistassini lake Mistissini QuebecThe DHC 3 CC 123 CSR 123 Otter was used until 1980 by the Royal Canadian Air Force and its successor the Air Command of the Canadian Forces It was used in Search and Rescue as the CSR denotes Canadian Search and Rescue type 123 and as a light utility transport CC denoting Canadian Cargo During the Suez Crisis the Canadian government decided to provide assistance to the United Nations Emergency Force and the Royal Canadian Navy carrier HMCS Magnificent carried 4 Otters from Halifax to Port Said in Egypt early in 1957 with all four flying off unassisted while the ship was at anchor 3 This was the only occasion when RCAF fixed wing aircraft operated from a Canadian warship 3 It was also operated on EDO floats on water and skis for winter operations on snow The EDO floats also had wheels for use on runways amphibious It was used as army support dropping supplies by parachute and also non parachute low speed low altitude air drops to support the Canadian Army on manoeuvres In the end it was operated by the Primary Air Reserve in Montreal Toronto Edmonton and Winnipeg with approximately 10 aircraft at each base as well as by the RSU Regular Forces Support Units at those bases It was usually flown with a single pilot Commissioned Officer in the left seat and a Technical Air Crewman NCO in the right seat The Kiowa helicopter replaced it in Air Reserve squadrons Although the Otter found ready acceptance in bush airlines as in a similar scenario to the DHC 2 Beaver the United States Army soon became the largest operator of the aircraft 184 delivered as the U 1A Otter Other military users included Australia Canada and India but the primary role of the aircraft as a rugged bush plane continues to this day An Otter crossed the South Pole in 1957 see Commonwealth Trans Antarctic Expedition The Otter is also popular in the skydiving community and can be found in many drop zones throughout the world Otters were used by Qantas from 1958 to 1960 in Papua New Guinea The Qantas aircraft were then transferred to Trans Australian Airlines TAA a major Australian domestic airline which operated the Otters in Papua New Guinea until 1966 when they were withdrawn from use TAA was merged with Qantas in 1990 Modifications edit The most extensively modified Otter was RCAF Otter 3682 After initial service as a standard Search and Rescue aircraft it was used to explore the aerodynamic aspects of STOL In 1958 it was fitted with flaps so outsized that with their 45 degree droop it became known as the Batwing Otter In addition its tail wheel undercarriage was replaced with a high energy absorption 4 wheel arrangement and a very high vertical tail The next modification replaced the flaps with fully retractable flaps suitable for cruising flight and high drag was obtained with reverse thrust from a J85 turbojet installed in the fuselage behind the cockpit The third configuration looked a lot like the future Twin Otter and was the first twin PT6 fixed wing installation to fly in May 1963 A twin PT6 engined helicopter the Kaman K 1125 had flown in April 1963 The piston engine in the nose was replaced with wing mounted engines to blow over the flaps 4 5 6 Stolairus Aviation of Kelowna BC has developed several modifications for the DHC 3 including a STOL Kit which modifies the wing with a contoured leading edge and drooped wingtips for increased performance Stolairus has also developed a 180 kilograms 400 lb upgross kit which increases the gross weight of the DHC 3 to 3 795 kilograms 8 367 lb on floats 7 Some aircraft were converted to turbine power using a PT6A Walter 601 manufactured in the Czech Republic or Garrett Honeywell TPE331 10 by Texas Turbine Conversions The Walter M601E 11 Turbine Engine conversion is manufactured and installed by Stolairus Aviation A Polish PZL radial engine has also been fitted Re engined aircraft have been offered since the 1980s by Airtech Canada as the DHC 3 1000 using current production 1 000 hp 745 kW PZL ASz 62 IR radials 8 Variants editDHC 3 Otter Single engined STOL utility transport aircraft CSR 123 Otter STOL utility transport aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force YU 1 Otter Six test and evaluation aircraft for the U S Army U 1A Otter STOL utility transport aircraft for the U S Army UC 1 Otter STOL utility transport aircraft for the United States Navy Later redesignated U 1B Otter in 1962 DHC 3 T Turbo Otter Otters fitted with either Pratt amp Whitney Canada PT6A 27 or Pratt amp Whitney Canada PT6A 34 turboprop engine Airtech Canada DHC 3 1000 Otter Conversions powered by PZL Kalisz ASz 62IR engines 8 Texas Turbines Super Otter Turbine conversion powered by a 900 shp 671 kW Garret TPE331 turboprop engine Aerotech Industries Turbine conversion powered by a 900shp Pratt amp Whitney Canada PT6A 140A turboprop engine 1 Military operators edit nbsp ArgentinaArgentine Air Force Former operator nbsp AustraliaRoyal Australian Air Force Two Otters RAAF serial A100 1 and 2 were in service with the RAAF from 1961 to 1967 The aircraft were used for passenger and freight transport duties at the Weapons Research Establishment Woomera South Australia No 1 Air Trials Unit nbsp BangladeshBangladesh Air Force Former operator nbsp BurmaBurma Air Force nbsp CanadaRoyal Canadian Air Force nbsp ChileChilean Air Force nbsp Costa RicaAir Surveillance Service nbsp EthiopiaEthiopian Air Force nbsp GhanaGhana Air Force acquired 12 Otters G300 G311 in service 1961 1973 serial number 413 414 416 418 420 422 424 425 426 428 430 431 9 4 aircraft had to be written off 8 aircraft were sold in 1973 G300 s n 413 crashed on 21 June 1968 in the jungle in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana and was destroyed G301 s n 414 crashed on 31 August 1961 at Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana and was destroyed G302 s n 416 crashed on the beach near Takoradi on a date unknown and was destroyed It was on floats at the time on a training detail G308 s n 426 was written off in service nbsp IndiaIndian Air Force nbsp IndonesiaIndonesian Air Force nbsp Khmer RepublicKhmer Air Force Former operator nbsp New ZealandRoyal New Zealand Air Force nbsp NicaraguaNicaraguan Air Force nbsp Nigeria nbsp NorwayRoyal Norwegian Air Force nbsp PanamaPanamanian Public Forces nbsp ParaguayParaguayan Air Force One DHC 3 donated by Argentina nbsp Philippines nbsp TanzaniaTanzanian Air Force nbsp United KingdomRoyal Air Force nbsp United StatesUnited States Air Force United States Army United States Navy Otter NU 1B is the oldest aircraft in the U S Navy in service at the U S Naval Test Pilot School Patuxent River Md 10 Civil operators edit nbsp DHC 3 T Turbo Otter on Lake Union Seattle WA nbsp AustraliaQantas Trans Australia Airlines nbsp CanadaRoyal Canadian Mounted Police Lamb Air Harbour Air Osprey Wings Ltd Provincial Airlines Air Saguenay Vancouver Island Air Bearskin Airlines formerly nbsp NorwayFjellfly Varangfly Westwing A S Wideroe nbsp PhilippinesPhilippine Airlines formerly nbsp United StatesTalkeetna Air Taxi Kenmore Air Wings Airways Key West Seaplane Adventures 11 Northwest Seaplanes nbsp FijiPacific Island Air nbsp New ZealandVolcanic Air Rotorua Accidents editAs of June 2019 there have been 119 incidents and accidents involving the DHC 3 resulting in 242 deaths 12 Listed below are a select few of the most notable ones In 1956 two military Otters broke up in mid air One had taken off from Downsview and the other from Goose Bay The Otter requires immediate use of elevator trim to counteract the strong change in pitch caused by the retraction or extension of the flaps Investigators found that metal contamination in a hydraulic valve allowed the flaps to rapidly retract with the tailplane still fully trimmed and the consequent nose drop was severe enough to cause structural failure A filter was added to the flap hydraulic system and an interconnection added between the flaps and tailplane to maintain proper trim as the flaps are operated 13 On 22 June 1994 a DHC 3 Otter floatplane N13GA registered to and operated by Wings of Alaska of Juneau Alaska crashed into the Taku Inlet 12 miles east of Juneau The air taxi flight had departed the Taku Lodge located on the Taku River bound for the Juneau downtown dock Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident Six passengers were killed one passenger was missing and presumed dead and the pilot and three passengers received serious injuries The National Transportation Safety Board NTSB attributed the accident to continued VFR into IMC and the pilot s consequent failure to maintain altitude above the water surface 14 On 9 August 2010 a DHC 3T registered to Anchorage based GCI crashed about 17 miles 27 km north of Dillingham Alaska while en route to a private fishing lodge 15 Five of the nine people on board were killed including former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens Surviving passengers included former NASA administrator Sean O Keefe and his teenage son both of whom sustained injuries 16 On 23 September 2011 a DHC 3T Turbine Otter floatplane N361TT sustained substantial damage during a go around and subsequent low altitude maneuver at Heitman Lake about 5 miles south southwest of Kodiak Alaska killing the pilot and injuring the two passengers One of the passengers reported that during the go around the airplane struck a tree on the shoreline and crashed 17 On 7 July 2013 a DHC 3 Otter registered to Rediske Air N93PC crashed on takeoff at Soldotna Airport Alaska killing all ten aboard 18 There were no surviving witnesses and the aircraft did not carry a flight data recorder but the NTSB was able to reconstruct the aircraft s flight path using a recovered mobile phone video recorded by a passenger The NTSB attributed the accident to a stall caused by the operator s failure to weigh cargo and verify that the aircraft was loaded within its center of gravity limits 19 nbsp Debris of 2015 Promech Air crash near Ketchikan Alaska On 25 June 2015 a Promech Air DHC 3 Otter crashed into the face of a granite cliff near Ella Lake Alaska 20 miles 32 km northeast of Ketchikan The aircraft carried a pilot and eight passengers who were tourists on a sightseeing excursion from a Holland America Line coastal cruise aboard the cruise ship MS Westerdam All nine people on board died The NTSB determined that the pilot had a history of poor decision making and that the company had a compromised culture that resulted in an operation in which safety competed with performance and revenue 20 21 22 23 On 15 September 2015 a DHC 3 Turbine Otter floatplane carrying ten people and belonging to Rainbow King Lodge crashed on takeoff at Eastwind Lake 1 mi 1 6 km mile north of Iliamna 175 mi 282 km southwest of Anchorage Three people were killed in the crash 24 On 13 May 2019 in the 2019 Alaska mid air collision a Taquan Air DHC 3 Turbine Otter floatplane N959PA collided with a Mountain Air Service DHC 2 Beaver N952DB over George Inlet Alaska with the loss of one passenger aboard the DHC 3 and five passengers and crew aboard the DHC 2 The NTSB attributed the accident to the inherent limitations of the see and avoid concept along with the absence of alerts from both airplanes traffic display systems Due to the angle of approach both pilots viewpoints were partially blocked by the aircraft structure or seated passengers The NTSB identified Taquan s inadequate preflight checklist and the Federal Aviation Administration s failure to require Taquan to implement a safety management system as contributing factors 25 On 4 September 2022 a DHC 3 floatplane operated by Friday Harbor Seaplanes N725TH crashed in Puget Sound near Whidbey Island Washington killing all ten aboard the aircraft 26 On October 24 the NTSB announced that the horizontal stabilizer actuator had separated into two pieces at a threaded assembly fitting and that the actuator lock ring was missing from the wreckage 27 28 The next day Viking Air issued a service letter requiring DHC 3 Otter operators to inspect their aircraft and ensure that the actuator s lock ring is present 29 Specifications landplane edit nbsp 3 view line drawing of the de Havilland Canada U 1A OtterData from Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1958 59 30 Jane s Civil and Military Aircraft Upgrades 1994 95 31 General characteristicsCrew 1 or 2 Capacity 9 11 passengers optional 10th seat in main cabin 6 stretchers with 4 seats 2 3 stretchers with 7 seats Length 41 ft 10 in 12 75 m Wingspan 58 ft 0 in 17 68 m Height 12 ft 7 in 3 84 m seaplane 15 ft 0 in 5 m dd Cabin length 16 ft 5 in 5 m Cabin width 5 ft 2 in 2 m Cabin height 4 ft 11 in 1 m Cabin volume 272 cu ft 7 7 m3 Stowage compartment volume 38 cu ft 1 1 m3 Wing area 375 sq ft 34 8 m2 Aspect ratio 8 97 Airfoil NACA 63A516 mod 32 Empty weight 4 108 lb 1 863 kg seaplane 4 620 lb 2 096 kg fixed skis 4 361 lb 1 978 kg wheel ski 4 475 lb 2 030 kg dd dd dd Gross weight 8 000 lb 3 629 kg seaplane 7 967 lb 3 614 kg dd Fuel capacity Total fuel 178 imp gal 214 US gal 809 L in 51 imp gal 61 US gal 232 L front tank 85 imp gal 102 US gal 386 L middle tank group two cells 42 imp gal 50 US gal 191 L rear tank Powerplant 1 Pratt amp Whitney R 1340 S1H1 G Wasp 9 cylinder air cooled radial piston engine 600 hp 450 kW or S3H1 G lower supercharger gearing dd dd dd Propellers 3 bladed Hamilton Standard 10 ft 10 in 3 30 m diameter constant speed propellerPerformance Maximum speed 160 mph 260 km h 140 kn at 5 000 ft 1 524 m seaplane 153 mph 133 kn 246 km h at 5 000 ft 1 524 m skiplane 158 mph 137 kn 254 km h at 5 000 ft 1 524 m dd dd Cruise speed 138 mph 222 km h 120 kn 66 power at 5 000 ft 1 524 m seaplane 129 mph 112 kn 208 km h at 5 000 ft 1 524 m skiplane 133 mph 116 kn 214 km h at 5 000 ft 1 524 m dd dd Range 960 mi 1 540 km 830 nmi full internal fuel at 5 000 ft 1 524 m seaplane 863 mi 750 nmi 1 389 km full internal fuel at 5 000 ft 1 524 m seaplane dd Endurance 9 hours 24 minutes at 5 000 ft 1 524 m seaplane 8 hours 54 minutes at 5 000 ft 1 524 m dd Service ceiling 18 800 ft 5 700 m S1H1 G engine17 400 ft 5 304 m S3H1 G engineSeaplane17 900 ft 5 456 m seaplane S1H1 G engine 16 400 ft 4 999 m seaplane S3H1 G engine Skiplane18 600 ft 5 669 m skiplane S1H1 G engine 17 100 ft 5 212 m skiplane S3H1 G engine dd dd dd Rate of climb 735 ft min 3 73 m s at sea levelseaplane 650 ft min 3 3 m s at sea levelskiplane 690 ft min 3 5 m s at sea level dd dd Take off distance to 50 ft 15 m 1 310 ft 399 m seaplane 1 980 ft 604 m dd Landing distance from 50 ft 15 m 975 ft 297 m seaplane 1 510 ft 460 m dd See also edit nbsp Aviation portal nbsp Canada portalRelated development de Havilland Canada DHC 2 Beaver de Havilland Canada DHC 6 Twin OtterAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Antonov An 2 Cessna 208 Caravan PAC P 750 XSTOL Pilatus PC 6 Porter Quest Kodiak Sherpa Aircraft SherpaRelated lists Bush plane List of civil aircraft List of non carrier aircraft flown from aircraft carriers STOLReferences editNotes edit Rossiter 1998 p 55 The De Havilland DHC 3 Otter a comprehensive information resource dhc3otter com Retrieved 5 July 2017 a b The Otters and the aircraft carrier lookoutnewspaper com 22 July 2013 Retrieved 5 July 2017 https www flightglobal com pdfarchive view 1963 1963 20 200073 html search january 20stol 20otter dead link Power The Pratt amp Whitney Canada Story Kenneth H Sullivan and Larry Milberry CANAV Books 1989 ISBN 0921022018 p 147 The Universal Airplanes Otter amp Twin Otter Sean Rossiter 1998 Douglas amp McIntyre ISBN 1550546376 pp 13 31 DHC 3 Otter Stolairus Retrieved 2 February 2012 a b Taylor 1988 p 17 Aird Neil Master Index Otter DHC 3 dhc 3archive com Retrieved 8 November 2020 PEO JSF Integrated Test Facility Public Affairs 24 October 2012 Photo A generation of naval aviation The F 35B Lightning II with the NU 1B Otter Naval Air Systems Command United States Navy Retrieved 21 April 2020 Key West Seaplane Adventures Accident Archives Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives Retrieved 7 June 2019 Air Crash The Clues in the Wreckage Fred Jones 1985 Roobert Hale Ltd ISBN 0709021615 pp 104 112 National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Accident Final Report Accident Number ANC94FA070 National Transportation Safety Board 5 June 1995 Retrieved 5 July 2017 Trimble Stephen EADS executive survives Alaska air crash but former senator killed flightglobal com 10 August 2010 Retrieved 10 August 2010 Bohrer Becky Plane crashes in Alaska kills former Alaska Sen Ted Stevens ex NASA chief survives Archived 2011 07 16 at the Wayback Machine The Associated Press via 680news com 10 August 2010 Retrieved 10 August 2010 National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Accident Final Report Accident Number ANC11FA107 National Transportation Safety Board 27 February 2013 Retrieved 5 July 2017 10 killed in Soldotna plane crash Archived 2013 07 11 at the Wayback Machine Peninsula Courier 7 July 2013 Retrieved 7 July 2013 Aviation Accident Final Report Report National Transportation Safety Board 20 April 2021 DCA13MA121 Retrieved 25 November 2022 St Claire Pat 25 June 2015 Small plane carrying cruise passengers crashes in Alaska CNN Retrieved 5 July 2017 Morrison Greg Payne Ed 30 June 2015 Authorities identify 9 people killed in Alaska plane crash CNN Retrieved 5 July 2017 Varandani Suman 26 June 2015 Alaska Plane Crash 9 People Killed After Sightseeing Plane Carrying Cruise Ship Passengers Crashes International Business Times Grady Mary 25 April 2017 NTSB Cites Company Culture In Fatal Crash AVweb Retrieved 26 April 2017 D Oro Rachel 15 September 2015 Fishing lodge s floatplane crashes in Alaska 3 dead 7 hurt Associated Press Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 5 July 2017 Aviation Accident Report NTSB AAR 21 04 PB2021 100915 PDF Report National Transportation Safety Board 20 April 2021 Retrieved 15 July 2021 10 Dead After Floatplane Crashes in Western Washington KFI AM 640 Retrieved 6 September 2022 NTSB report points to separated actuator in Mutiny Bay floatplane crash that killed 10 komonews 24 October 2022 Retrieved 5 November 2022 Aircraft Accident Investigative Update PDF National Transportation Safety Board 24 October 2022 DCA22MA193 Retrieved 8 November 2022 DHC 3 Stabilizer Actuator Lock Ring Special Inspection PDF Viking Air 25 October 2022 DHC3 SL 27 001 Retrieved 8 November 2022 Bridgman Leonard ed 1958 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1958 59 London Jane s All the World s Aircraft Publishing Co Ltd pp 127 128 Michell 1994 p 24 Lednicer David The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage m selig ae illinois edu Retrieved 16 April 2019 Bibliography edit Hayes Karl E DHC 3 Otter A History CD ROM Crakaig Killiney Hill Road Killiney Co Dublin Ireland Karl E Hayes Publisher 2006 also available via CANAV Books Toronto Hotson Fred W The de Havilland Canada Story Toronto CANAV Books 1983 ISBN 0 07 549483 3 Michell Simon ed Jane s Civil and Military Aircraft Upgrades 1994 95 Coulsdon UK Jane s Information Group 1994 ISBN 0 7106 1208 7 Milberry Larry Aviation in Canada Toronto McGraw Hill Ryerson Ltd 1979 ISBN 0 07 082778 8 Molson Ken M and Harold A Taylor Canadian Aircraft Since 1909 Stittsville Ontario Canada s Wings Inc 1982 ISBN 0 920002 11 0 Pentagon Over the Islands The Thirty Year History of Indonesian Military Aviation Air Enthusiast Quarterly 2 154 162 n d ISSN 0143 5450 Rossiter Sean The Immortal Beaver The World s Greatest Bush Plane Vancouver Douglas amp McIntyre 1999 ISBN 1 55054 724 0 Rossiter Sean Otter amp Twin Otter The Universal Airplanes Vancouver Douglas amp McIntyre 1998 ISBN 1 55054 637 6 Sonck Jean Pierre January 2002 1964 l ONU au Congo The United Nations in the Congo 1964 Avions Toute l Aeronautique et son histoire in French 106 31 36 ISSN 1243 8650 Sonck Jean Pierre February 2002 1964 l ONU au Congo Avions Toute l Aeronautique et son histoire in French 107 33 38 ISSN 1243 8650 Taylor John W R ed Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1988 89 Coulsdon UK Jane s Defence Data 1988 ISBN 0 7106 0867 5 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to De Havilland Canada DHC 3 Otter DHC 3archive com de Havilland Canada DHC 3 CC 123 Otter De Havilland Canada D H C 3 Otter US Navy Otter service in Antarctica Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title De Havilland Canada DHC 3 Otter amp oldid 1179252730, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.