20040716018009I

Incident · Minor damage

FAA incident report · Aviat A-1A · Fryburg, ME · July 16, 2004

Date: July 16, 2004 · 10:54 local
Place: Fryburg, ME
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N4674L
NTSB investigation: NTSBIAD04IA032
Reported as: Aviat A1A
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 700 total230 in this make and model30 in the last 90 days

N4674LRegistration cancelled Dec 30, 2004 · Aviat A-1AS/N 1433 · Built 1998 Airframe modelAviat A-1A Engine modelLycoming O&VO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Pilot was conducting scenic day VFR flight. Engine began to run rough. Pilot performed a precautionary landing on a sand bar in the saco river. Aircraft was fast on approach floated on landing. Pilot decided to go around, applied full power. Aircraft hit the water prior to engine power up. Aircraft came to rest inverted 20 feet from the sand bar (150 feet from shore), in 2 to 3 feet of water. Aircraft sustained damage to both left wing struts, left wing root, windshield, lower engine cowling, and propeller. Aircraft was air lifted from river to shore then transported to biddeford, ME via truck.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT WAS CONDUCTING SCENIC DAY VFR FLIGHT. ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. PILOT PERFORMED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A SAND BAR IN THE SACO RIVER. AIRCRAFT WAS FAST ON APPROACH FLOATED ON LANDING. PILOT DECIDED TO GO AROUND, APPLIED FULL POWER. AIRCRAFT HIT THE WATER PRIOR TO ENGINE POWER UP. AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST INVERTED 20 FEET FROM THE SAND BAR (150 FEET FROM SHORE), IN 2 TO 3 FEET OF WATER. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO BOTH LEFT WING STRUTS, LEFT WING ROOT, WINDSHIELD, LOWER ENGINE COWLING, AND PROPELLER. AIRCRAFT WAS AIR LIFTED FROM RIVER TO SHORE THEN TRANSPORTED TO BIDDEFORD, ME VIA TRUCK.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB IAD04IA032Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportFryeburg, METhe pilot's improper use of carburetor heat, which resulted in a loss of engine power. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.Jul 16, 2004 · Minor damage