A turbine powered Otter had a long gestation. DHC considered it after the P & W Canada PT-6 engine was developed in the '60s (too expensive and the DHC-6 Twin Otter was preferred). Western Rotorcraft in Seattle, WA mounted a Garrett TPE311 to N3904, but the improvement was unremarkable and the piston engine was re-installed. Ray Cox engineered his conversion in 1973 and tested C-FMES-X / N4247A into the '80s. An unfortunate forced landing on December 19, 1984 damaged the prototype and funds ran out before the program could continue with only one aircraft converted.