What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot was performing a takeoff from a lake north of Kenai, AK for his return to anchorage, AK. The pilot had arrived several hours previous to the accident without incident. Aproximately 4 seconds after taking off, the aircraft began to shake violently and lose power. The pilot attempted to correct the situation but realized the aircraft was not going to maintain flight. The pilot attempted to return to the lake surface based on limited remaining water area in front of the aircraft but was only able to turn approximately 90 degrees. Time from the violent shaking and landing was 9 seconds. The aircraft sustained significant damage upon landing. Both wings folded down onto the floats. The pilot and passenger were able to escape the aircraft without injury.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT WAS PERFORMING A TAKEOFF FROM A LAKE NORTH OF KENAI, AK FOR HIS RETURN TO ANCHORAGE, AK. THE PILOT HAD ARRIVED SEVERAL HOURS PREVIOUS TO THE ACCIDENT WITHOUT INCIDENT.APROXIMATELY 4 SECONDS AFTER TAKING OFF, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND LOSE POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE SITUATION BUT REALIZED THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT GOING TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT.THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE LAKE SURFACE BASED ON LIMITED REMAINING WATER AREA IN FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT BUT WAS ONLY ABLE TO TURN APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES. TIME FROM THE VIOLENT SHAKING AND LANDING WAS 9 SECONDS.THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE UPON LANDING. BOTH WINGS FOLDED DOWN ONTO THE FLOATS. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT INJURY.
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 N7154Z · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.