Summary
On August 22, 2019, a Cessna A185 (N1920Q) was involved in an accident near Rangeley Lake, ME. The accident resulted in 2 minor injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the floats, which led to his subsequent attempt to depart from a lake with damaged floats and led to a loss of roll control and the right wing impacting the water.
The pilot of the amphibious-float equipped airplane reported that, while departing from a lake, the floatplane was not "gaining airspeed as usual" and that the takeoff run was taking "longer." Prior to aborting the takeoff, the left float lifted off the water, followed shortly by the right float. While in ground effect, the floatplane started to roll to the right. He corrected with full left aileron, but the floatplane continued to roll to the right. He then reduced power and applied 40º of flaps and still the floatplane rolled right so he increased the throttle to full and the right wing impacted the water.
This accident is documented in NTSB report GAA19CA513. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N1920Q.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the floats, which led to his subsequent attempt to depart from a lake with damaged floats and led to a loss of roll control and the right wing impacting the water.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The pilot of the amphibious-float equipped airplane reported that, while departing from a lake, the floatplane was not "gaining airspeed as usual" and that the takeoff run was taking "longer." Prior to aborting the takeoff, the left float lifted off the water, followed shortly by the right float. While in ground effect, the floatplane started to roll to the right. He corrected with full left aileron, but the floatplane continued to roll to the right. He then reduced power and applied 40º of flaps and still the floatplane rolled right so he increased the throttle to full and the right wing impacted the water.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.
Two witnesses reported that, about one hour prior to the accident flight, the same floatplane controlled by the same pilot, water taxied over rocks near the floatplane deck.
The pilot added that the lake was 2 to 3 feet lower than normal and while water taxiing back to the floatplane deck, he saw the rocks but did not realize it caused any damage to the floats. After the flight, he did not find any residual water in the floats but did not examine the rest of the floats because it was under water.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA19CA513