Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Loss of Control in Flight: Cessna R172K Hawk XP, N612R; accident occurred May 20, 2020 near Surfside Seaplane Base (8Y4), Lino Lakes, Anoka County, Minnesota

 














Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:


Location: Lino Lakes, Minnesota
Accident Number: CEN20CA188
Date & Time: May 20, 2020, 09:46 Local
Registration: N612R
Aircraft: Cessna R172
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis

The pilot and flight instructor were conducting a local flight in the float equipped airplane from a seaplane base. The pilot stated that there was a crosswind from the southeast and he planned to takeoff to the southwest with a 30° left turn while "on step" to avoid the lake weed bloom in progress. The pilot added that during the takeoff attempt, with the airplane "on step," he made a left turn toward an opening in the weeds, swung around a buoy, then the airplane capsized. A witness reported that during the takeoff, the left float was higher than the right and the right wing dipped down. The pilot reported to the responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector that the centrifugal force acting on the airplane and the left crosswind allowed the left wing to lift and the right float sunk into the water. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the engine mount. There were no reported mechanical
malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff with a crosswind.

Findings

Aircraft Directional control - Not attained/maintained
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot

Factual Information

History of Flight

Takeoff Loss of control in flight (Defining event)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private 
Age: 54,Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Single-engine sea
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: March 20, 2019
Occupational Pilot: No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: July 1, 2018
Flight Time: 681 hours (Total, all aircraft), 145 hours (Total, this make and model), 596 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 6.5 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 4.5 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Flight instructor Information

Certificate: Airline transport; Commercial; Flight engineer; Flight instructor
Age: 48, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Single-engine sea; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane multi-engine; Airplane single-engine; Instrument airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: April 6, 2020
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 10638 hours (Total, all aircraft), 76 hours (Total, this make and model), 2942 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 76 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N612R
Model/Series: R172 K 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1977
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: R1722687
Landing Gear Type: Float
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: March 16, 2020 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2550 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 4945 Hrs as of last inspection 
Engine Manufacturer: Continental Motors
ELT: C91 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-360-KB
Registered Owner: 
Rated Power: 210 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KANE, 912 ft msl 
Distance from Accident Site: 4 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 09:45 Local 
Direction from Accident Site: 266°
Lowest Cloud Condition: 
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 2600 ft AGL
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 12 knots / 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:  /
Wind Direction: 120° 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:  /
Altimeter Setting: 30.14 inches Hg 
Temperature/Dew Point: 18°C / 11°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Lino Lakes, MN (8Y4)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Lino Lakes, MN (8Y4)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 09:46 Local
Type of Airspace: Class E

Airport Information

Airport: SURFSIDE 8Y4
Runway Surface Type: Water
Airport Elevation: 880 ft msl 
Runway Surface Condition: Water-calm
Runway Used: SW IFR 
Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 6500 ft / 1000 ft 
VFR Approach/Landing: None

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None 
Latitude, Longitude: 45.157501,-93.121665(est)
  



2 comments:

  1. "The pilot reported to the responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector that the centrifugal force acting on the airplane and the left crosswind allowed the left wing to lift and the right float sunk into the water."

    What the heck? Someone didn't put in the proper amount of crosswind correction. I'm pretty sure that's the PIC's job...

    ReplyDelete