Aviat A-1B Husky, N352AM: Accident occurred June 10, 2018 at Will Rogers Wiley Post Memorial Seaplane Base (W36), Renton, Washington

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Seattle, Washington 

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N352AM

Location: Renton, WA
Accident Number: GAA18CA336
Date & Time: 06/10/2018, 1430 PDT
Registration: N352AM
Aircraft: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A 1
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff on a tower controlled waterway in gusting crosswind conditions, he felt the wind direction shift as the airplane started to lift off. He added that a strong gust of wind then lifted the left wing, and the right wing dipped and impacted the water. He reduced power and shut the engine off. The impact had damaged the float connecting rod. The airplane came to rest upright on both floats, but the left float then separated from the fuselage, and the airplane sank.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift strut.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The automated weather observation system about 1 nautical mile from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 170° at 7 knots with thunderstorms in the vicinity. According to the pilot, the tower had reported the possibility of gusts up to 20 knots. The pilot was departing the waterway to the east/southeast.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 77, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land; Single-engine Sea
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 07/07/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 06/03/2017
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 3103 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1088 hours (Total, this make and model), 9 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 9 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC
Registration: N352AM
Model/Series: A 1 B
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2003
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 2252
Landing Gear Type: Float
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection:  Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2200 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 1120 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: Installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: O-360 SERIES
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 180 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KRNT, 29 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 2135 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 163°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 4400 ft agl
Visibility:  6 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 9000 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 7 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / Unknown
Wind Direction: 170°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / Moderate
Altimeter Setting: 30.04 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 16°C / 7°C
Precipitation and Obscuration:  Moderate - Haze; Moderate - In the Vicinity - Thunderstorms - No Precipitation
Departure Point: Renton, WA (W36)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR
Destination: Victoria, BC
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 1436 PDT
Type of Airspace: Class D

Airport Information

Airport: WILL ROGERS WILEY POST MEMORIAL (W36)
Runway Surface Type: Water
Airport Elevation: 14 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Water--choppy
Runway Used: 12
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5000 ft / 200 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude:  47.505278, -122.219444 (est)

RENTON, Wash. - The water rescue team with Renton Firefighters Local 864 are responded to a Aviat A-1B Husky that crashed into the water near Gene Coulon Park in Renton Sunday afternoon.  

Gene Coulon Park is located at 1201 Lake Washington Blvd., near The Landing shopping mall and south of the VMAC.

The plane crashed under unknown circumstances and the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate, according to Allen Kenitzer of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Rescuers made contact with the pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, and officials say the pilot is uninjured. 

Responders are now switching their efforts to "mitigate any fuel leaks or other hazards into Lake Washington," according to Renton Fire. 

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