The floatplane that crashed into Puget Sound on Sept. 4 has a long history in the skies over western Washington, and so does the Renton company that owns it. The de Havilland DHC-3 Otter floatplane that crashed near Whidbey Island, killing at least one person, was built in 1967. Despite its age, former NTSB senior Air Safety Investigator Gregory Feith said that doesn't necessarily mean the plane was not safe. Records from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) show the plane received an airworthiness certificate in May 2014, likely meaning that the plane's owner, Northwest Seaplanes, installed a new turboprop engine. Feith said changing out the old engine that used to be on the front end of that airplane and installing a higher horsepower turboprop engine is something you would typically see on a commuter-type aircraft. A Facebook post from Northwest Seaplanes states that Otter received an annual maintenance check up. Seaplane companies are heavily regulated by the FAA, according to Feith. It's a regulatory tier just below commercial airlines. Seaplane Northwest is a sister company of Friday Harbor Seaplanes. Feith said he know of no violations in the company's history. READ THE FULL STORY: https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/plane-crashed-whidbey-island-history/281-3291a29b-a6c6-49e0-95b1-dca5ebe962c5