The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Portland, Maine
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Location: Naples, ME
Accident Number: ERA17LA252
Date & Time: 07/16/2017, 1515 EDT
Registration: N736NK
Aircraft: CESSNA R172
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On July 16, 2017, about 1515 eastern daylight time, a Cessna R172K, N736NK, was substantially damaged during landing at Brandy Pond Seaplane Base (5ME), Naples, Maine. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Biddeford Municipal Airport (B19), Biddeford, Maine.
The pilot reported to local police that when the airplane landed it "bounced" and that he was "not entirely sure what happened" and felt that maybe one of the wings went into the water. In a statement provided to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported, "Upon water landing touchdown and after an otherwise normal circling approach the aircraft yaw and roll were uncontrollable. The aircraft rolled right and came to a stop with at least part of the right wing submerged."
Multiple witnesses reported the water was "choppy" and "very busy" with boating activity. The landing was recorded by a boater on Brandy Pond at the time of the accident and posted on a commercial website. Examination of the video revealed rapid, abrupt rolling of the wings at a very low altitude just prior to water contact. At touchdown, the airplane bounced and then rotated back and forth about the roll axis, alternately contacting the water with the left and right pontoons. The roll oscillations increased in magnitude until the right pontoon and right wing tip dragged the water, which brought the airplane to an abrupt stop with the right wingtip submerged.
One witness stated the water was rough and he thought the airplane looked high on its approach and was not landing into the wind. He stated the airplane was fast and did not decrease power until just before touchdown.
Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed that the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer were substantially damaged. Flight control continuity was confirmed to all flight control surfaces. Movement of the elevator was restricted due to impact damage.
The four-seat, high wing, amphibious airplane, was powered by a Continental IO-360, 210 horsepower engine.
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, and airplane single-engine sea. He reported 650 hours of total flight experience on his most recent application for an FAA third-class medical certificate, which was issued on February 28, 2017.
The closest weather reporting facility was Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport (LEW), Auburn, Maine, about 14 miles east of the accident site. At 1656, weather included wind from 170° at 12 knots; clear skies; visibility 10 statute miles; temperature, 28° C; dew point, 18° C; and an altimeter setting 29.91 inches of mercury.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 53, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land; Single-engine Sea
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-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: 02/28/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 07/16/2017
Flight Time: 650 hours (Total, all aircraft), 620 hours (Total, this make and model), 650 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 20 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 8 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Registration: N736NK
Model/Series: R172 K
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: R1722656
Landing Gear Type: Amphibian
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 04/03/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2550 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2271 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: CONT MOTOR
ELT: C91 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-360 SER
Registered Owner: MAINE AIR PHYSICIAN SERVICES LLC
Rated Power: 210 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: KLEW, 288 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 14 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1656 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 66°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 10 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: 170°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.91 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 28°C / 18°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: BIDDEFORD, ME (B19)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Naples, ME (5ME)
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 1430 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class E
Airport Information
Airport: BRANDY POND (5ME)
Runway Surface Type: Water
Airport Elevation: 268 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Water--choppy
Runway Used: 35W
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 7200 ft / 600 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop; Traffic Pattern
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 43.953889, -70.587500 (est)
That Cigarette type boat driver "cat walking" his boat by this aircraft is a complete idiot and an example of an idiot with more money than brains. His waves would do more damage to this aircraft as the rollers came in to hit it and rock it around. I cannot believe how stupid people are in general be it in planes as so often reported here, boats, or most commonly seen in dash cam videos on Youtube, cars.
ReplyDelete