FAA Investigating Portland Under-Bridge Takeoff

The FAA says it has launched an investigation into the departure of a Quest (now Daher) Kodiak turboprop on floats from the Willamette River, which took the aircraft under a bridge. The agency issued a single line statement to AvBrief without offering any details but it would appear the only basis for the investigation will be to determine if it was an intentionally reckless act. So far the pilot of the aircraft, which is owned by an LLC with an address in downtown Seattle, has not come forward with his or her explanation of the takeoff, which local officials have described as “uncommon.”

Sean Whalen, the harbor master for Portland Fire and Rescue told local TV station KGW8 that he’s only seen one other floatplane in that area of river in the six years he’s had the job. The section has numerous bridges and docks. “It’s [floatplane activity] is certainly uncommon in this particular area,” Whalen said. But there are also no regulations barring float planes from using the river and all bodies of water are open to float planes at the pilot’s discretion.

The only violation that could be cited is CFR 91.13 Careless or reckless operation. AvBrief readers are split on whether this incident violates that reg with some saying flying under the bridge was the right call if the pilot did not think he could clear the deck, which is 50 feet above the river. Others said he shouldn’t have been there in the first place. Meanwhile, new angles of the incident have been pulled from surveillance cameras and a local TV station has put them together.

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