What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Condition:calm water and light wind. Pilot planned to start the take-off run opposite the direction he intended to take off, do a step turn to the left to the intended departure direction and take off. In the step turn the rate of turn increased to more than what the pilot anticipated. The pilot lost control as the turn tightened, resulting in an excessive capsizing tendency of the aircraft, causing the right wing to contact the water resulting in substantial damage to the right wing.
As the FAA filed it
CONDITION:CALM WATER AND LIGHT WIND. PILOT PLANNED TO START THE TAKE-OFF RUN OPPOSITE THE DIRECTION HE INTENDED TO TAKE OFF, DO A STEP TURN TO THE LEFT TO THE INTENDED DEPARTURE DIRECTION AND TAKE OFF. IN THE STEP TURN THE RATE OF TURN INCREASED TO MORE THAN WHAT THE PILOT ANTICIPATED. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL AS THE TURN TIGHTENED, RESULTING IN AN EXCESSIVE CAPSIZING TENDENCY OF THE AIRCRAFT, CAUSING THE RIGHT WING TO CONTACT THE WATER RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N1018A · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.