What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On March 4, 2013, N226SE, a pilot in command designed and built experimental seaplane, sustained substantial damage when the pilot in command attempted to depart from lake sammamish, bellevue, WA.
The one of a kind designed and built experimental seaplane has no documented or known limitations, except that through the pilot in commands flight testing.
During an interview with the FAA iic, the pilot stated that his personally designed and built aircraft had handled upwards of ten inch swells in the past, this time the swells on the lake were exceeding twelve inches, and that he now knows the limit of the aircraft and his experience.
As the FAA filed it
ON MARCH 4, 2013, N226SE, A PILOT IN COMMAND DESIGNED AND BUILT EXPERIMENTAL SEAPLANE, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN THE PILOT IN COMMAND ATTEMPTED TO DEPART FROM LAKE SAMMAMISH, BELLEVUE, WA.
THE ONE OF A KIND DESIGNED AND BUILT EXPERIMENTAL SEAPLANE HAS NO DOCUMENTED OR KNOWN LIMITATIONS, EXCEPT THAT THROUGH THE PILOT IN COMMANDS FLIGHT TESTING.
DURING AN INTERVIEW WITH THE FAA IIC, THE PILOT STATED THAT HIS PERSONALLY DESIGNED AND BUILT AIRCRAFT HAD HANDLED UPWARDS OF TEN INCH SWELLS IN THE PAST, THIS TIME THE SWELLS ON THE LAKE WERE EXCEEDING TWELVE INCHES, AND THAT HE NOW KNOWS THE LIMIT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND HIS EXPERIENCE.
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 N226SE · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.