102

c/n 102

CF-IUR

No photographs at this time.

Photo:

c/n 102

CF-IUR

Entries preceded by dates are extracts from Canadian Department of Transport archives.

(There is a letter, and Department of Transport reply, on this file from our colleague Karl Hayes dated 30-Mar-1981 supplying a list of Otters for which he required information). This led to the making of Karl’s CD-ROM.

02-Mar-1956 CF-IUR allotted to DHC-3 msn 102 to de Havilland Aircraft Company of Canada (for Canadian Aircraft Renters Ltd).

• CF-IUR Canadian Aircraft Renters Ltd., Toronto Island Airport, ON. Delivered 29th March 1956. based at Knob Lake (Schefferville), QC.

05-Apr-1956. Certificate of Airworthiness #4693 issued.

05-Apr-1956. Certificate of Registration #16237 issued to Canadian Aircraft Renters Ltd., Toronto, ON.

23-Apr-1958. Application for Certificate of Registration by Wheeler Air Lines Ltd., St-Jovite, QC.

23-Apr-1958. Certificate of Registration #20007 issued to Wheeler Air Lines Ltd., St-Jovite, QC.

• CF-IUR Wheeler Airlines Ltd., St. Jovite, QC. Regd 23-Apr-1958. Based at Frobisher Bay, Baffin Island, NT.

Accident: Eight miles north-east of Pangnirtung, NT. 15-Jun-1958. The wheel equipped aircraft flew from Frobisher Bay to the native settlement bringing home some native Inuit. The settlement was completely overcast when the aircraft arrived, so the pilot landed down the fiord, about eight miles north-east of the settlement and commenced to taxi the Otter towards it. Being unfamiliar with the area, the pilot taxied too close to the shore, in a particular area where the ice is always thin due to rip-tides. The aircraft's skis broke through the thin ice and the Otter tipped forward into a tail-up position of about 45 degrees. The occupants exited safely and no- one was injured. An attempt to repair and recover the aircraft was abandoned after fuel from the aircraft’s tanks had permeated and weakened the surrounding ice. On 17-Jun-1958 the aircraft sank in about fifty feet of water. There was no salvage attempt.

• CF-IUR Cancelled on Canadian Civil Aircraft Register. (Sometime prior to 31-Mar-1959).

Total time as recorded in Canadian Department of Transport archives.

28-Nov-1956 - 588 hours

07-Feb-1958 - 1,400 hours

• Written off •

Otter 102 was delivered to Canadian Aircraft Renters Ltd of Toronto Island Airport, Ontario on 29th March 1956 registered CF-IUR. It was the second Otter delivered to this company, which had already taken delivery of CF-IKT (81) in January 1956. Despite the company's name, which suggests an aircraft lessor, Canadian Aircraft Renters actually operated both Otters, which were used to assist in the construction of the Mid Canada Line of radar sites, based at Knob Lake (Schefferville), Québec.

Details unfortunately are lacking, but it is known that IUR suffered engine failure and made a forced landing on North River, Montreal on a flight from Knob Lake on 28th November 1956. Another incident is recorded on 1st February '57 between Site 42 and Frobisher Bay. The Otter was sold to Wheeler Airlines Ltd of St.Jovite, Québec to whom it was registered on 23rd April 1958. With Wheeler Airlines, the Otter was based at Frobisher Bay on Baffin Island, Northwest Territories, flying DEW Line support and general charter work. On 15th June '58 the Otter flew from Frobisher Bay to the native settlement at Pangnirtung Fiord, bringing home some native Inuit. The settlement was completely overcast when the aircraft arrived, so the pilot landed down the fiord, about eight miles north-east of Pangnirtung and commenced to taxi the Otter towards the settlement.

Being unfamiliar with the area, the pilot taxied CF-IUR too close to the shore, in a particular area where the ice is always thin due to rip-tides. The aircraft's skis broke through the thin ice and the Otter tipped forward into a tail-up position of about 45 degrees. The occupants exited safely and noone was injured. The next day, Beaver CF-JZI of Wheeler Airlines landed on the ice in front of the settlement with personnel and equipment on board, with the intention of trying to raise the Otter and place its skis on the firm surrounding ice. This was not possible due to the seepage of gasoline from the Otter eating away and undermining the ice in the immediate vicinity of the aircraft. On 17th June 1958 CF-IUR sank in about fifty feet of water. There was no salvage attempt.