The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has concluded that a defective repair performed months earlier was a key factor in a seaplane crash that occurred in Quebec in 2025. The accident involved a De Havilland DHC-2 MK. I (Beaver) aircraft that went down in the Richelieu River near St-Basile-le-Grand.
The Crash and Recovery
The incident took place in 2025, with the wreckage of the iconic Beaver aircraft being recovered from the river on May 2, 2025. The TSB's investigation, which culminated in a report released in January 2026, meticulously traced the cause back to maintenance work conducted prior to the flight. Investigators determined that a specific repair job on the aircraft was not performed to required standards, creating a latent defect that ultimately led to the crash.
Investigation Uncovers Maintenance Failure
The safety board's findings highlight a critical failure in the maintenance chain. The faulty repair job, completed several months before the accident, compromised the aircraft's airworthiness. While the exact nature of the repair and the specific component involved are detailed in the full TSB report, the central conclusion is clear: the substandard work directly contributed to the catastrophic event. This underscores the vital importance of rigorous adherence to maintenance protocols in aviation.
Implications for Aviation Safety
This investigation serves as a stark reminder of the cascading consequences of technical non-compliance. The TSB report aims not only to explain the cause of this particular Quebec seaplane crash but also to inform the broader aviation industry. By identifying the breakdown in repair quality control, the board can issue safety advisories to prevent similar incidents. The findings will likely prompt reviews of maintenance procedures by operators of similar aircraft across Canada.
The release of the report on January 13, 2026, provides closure to the investigative phase, though it marks a sobering moment for aviation safety oversight. The crash of the durable De Havilland Beaver, a workhorse of Canadian aviation, in the waters of the Richelieu River is now formally attributed to a human error in maintenance, a factor that continues to be a focal point for safety regulators worldwide.
