Landing Gear Not Configured: Aero Adventure Aventura II, N366RC; Accident occurred January 14, 2020 in East Palatka, Putnam County, Florida

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Orlando, Florida

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket

https://registry.faa.gov/N366RC

Location: East Palatka, FL
Accident Number: ERA20CA081
Date & Time: 01/14/2020, 1826 EST
Registration: N366RC
Aircraft: Pereyra AVENTURA
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Landing gear not configured
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

Analysis

According to the pilot, he took off from a river behind his home and proceeded to a local airport where he lowered the landing gear and performed three touch-and-go landings. The pilot said he was preoccupied during the return flight to the river for a water landing and "forgot" to retract the landing gear for the pontoon-hull landing. At touchdown, the airplane immediately flipped over and came to rest inverted. The fuselage forward of the landing gear sustained substantial damage.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The pilot's failure to properly configure the amphibious airplane for a water landing, which resulted in it flipping over.

Findings

Aircraft Wheel/ski/float - Not used/operated

Personnel issues Forgotten action/omission - Pilot

Personnel issues Task monitoring/vigilance - Pilot

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing Landing gear not configured (Defining event)

Landing-flare/touchdown Nose over/nose down

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age:65, Male 
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied:Left 
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 06/08/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  388 hours (Total, all aircraft), 40.4 hours (Total, this make and model)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Pereyra
Registration: N366RC
Model/Series: AVENTURA II
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:2005 
Amateur Built:Yes 
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number:AA2A0125 
Landing Gear Type: Amphibian
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 06/26/2019, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1232 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 43 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 344.66 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Rotax
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series:912ULS 
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 100 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: 28J, 48 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time: 2335 UTC
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 3500 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 4300 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 8 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 360°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting:
Temperature/Dew Point: 3°C / -9°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: East Palatka, FL
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: East Palatka, FL
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time:  EST
Type of Airspace: Class G

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 29.655278, -81.618333 (est)