# Incident 20040314003229I: Conaer LA4200, Cusick, WA, March 14, 2004 - Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: March 14, 2004, 15:40 local time - Place: Cusick, WA - Damage: Minor damage - Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing) - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 48.5106° N, 117.3706° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5106&lon=-117.3706&mi=10 - Aircraft: N65675, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65675-2006-09-08) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Lake LA-4-200 (registry code 5110310, https://openairdocs.org/model/lake-la-4-200) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CONAER LA4200 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA04LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA055) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040314003229I ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23) ON MARCH 14, 2004 DR. JAMES COOL WAS ACTING AS PILOT IN COMMAND OF N65675, A LAKE AMPHIBIOUS AIRPLANE ON THE PEND OREILLE RIVER NEAR CUSICK, WASHINGTON. DR. COOL STATED HE HAD BEEN PRACTICING "TOUCH AND GOES" ON THE RIVER WHEN HE DAMAGED THE AIRCRAFT. WHEN INTERVIEWED DR. COOL STATED HE MAY HAVE LANDED A LITTLE SIDEWAYS. THIS RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING SPONSON, HOWEVER, HE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE AIRCRAFT TO THE SHORE BEFORE IT SANK. SEARCH AND RESCUE PERSONNEL FROM PEND OREILLE COUNTY REMOVED THE SPONSON FROM THE AIRCRAFT TO PREVENT THE WING FROM GOING UNDER WATER. A POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMPLETED BY THE SPOKANE FSDO REVEALED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE SPONSON ATTACHMENT AND LEFT WING OF THE AIRCRAFT. FAA RECORDS ALSO REVEALED THAT DR. COOL DOES NOT POSSESS SEA PLANE PRIVILEGES ON HIS PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE AND HIS CLASS III AIRMANS MEDICAL WAS EXPIRED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. (-23 AMENDMENT) NOTE: THIS SITUATION HAS CHANGED TO AN INCIDENT FROM AN ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A SHOP WHERE AN IN DEPTH ASSESSMENT OF THE DAMAGE CAN BE TAKEN. THE DAMAGE THIS INSPECTOR SAW THAT MADE IT AN AC CIDENT WAS PREEXISTING AND DID NOT OCCUR DURING THIS INCIDENT. THE SHOP DETERMINED THAT THE SKIN WRINKLES ARE OLD AND WERE PROBABLY LEFT OVER FROM A PREVIOUS INCIDENT WHERE THE LEADING EDGE HAS IN FACT BEEN REPLACED AND A SPAR BUTT REPAIRED WITH A DOUBLER. ACTUAL DAMAGE TO THIS AIRCRAFT DURING THIS INCIDENT INCLUDES BENT SPONSON ATTACH BRACKETS, SKIN DAMAGE, AND DAMAGE TO THE SPONSON. THIS DOES NOT FIT THE PARAMETERS FOR SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE SO THIS ACCIDENT IS BEING REDUCED TO AN INCIDENT. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB SEA04LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA055), Mar 14, 2004: Lake LA-4-200 (N65675), Cusick, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for crosswind conditions and his failure to maintain proper alignment in the direction of landing during the touchdown portion of a water landing on a… ## Other reports on N65675 (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20040321004089I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040321004089I), Mar 21, 2004: Conaer LA4200 (N65675), Ellensburg, WA. (-23) The pilot was ferrying the aircraft for the owner for maintenance when the engine oil and CHT temps went high and oil pressure dropped some. The engine… - [Incident 19920620026119I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920620026119I), Jun 20, 1992: Conaer LA4200 (N65675), Foley, AL, Minor damage. Observed no hydraulic pressure. Unable to lock all gears down. Landed nose gear up on grass beside runway. - [Incident 19790707019929I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790707019929I), Jul 7, 1979: Conaer LA4200 (N65675), Long Lake, ME, Minor damage. During landing run right pontoon struck unidentified floating object. Damaged pontoon, bow, right windshield. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.