20130625011139A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Avery Jack H GLASTAR GS-1 · Grand Rapids, MN · June 25, 2013

Date: June 25, 2013 · 17:30 local
Place: Grand Rapids, MN
Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N103A
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN13LA376
Reported as: Avery Jack H Glastar GS-1
Reported engine: Lycoming O-360 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 10,000 total35 in this make and model5 in the last 90 days

N103ARegistration cancelled May 28, 2014 · Avery Jack H GLASTAR GS-1S/N 5328 Airframe modelAvery Jack H GLASTAR GS-1 Engine modelLycoming O-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.

Pilot departed lily lake which is part of the Grand Rapids, MN airport (gpz). The pilot intended to fly to his property on shoal lake, just north of the city of Grand Rapids, MN.

Prior to landing on shoal lake, he made a couple of low passes. Prior to setting up for his landing, he received approximately 3-4 aural autopilot disconnect warnings. He did not remember engaging the autopilot, but felt this was not a major concern.

On final approach to shoal lake, he stated that he was stabilized and on speed. As soon as the aircraft touched down on the water, it turned hard to the right and tilted to the left.

The pilot believes at this point, the left float dug into the water and that the left wingtip may also have struck the water. The aircraft nose then impacted the water, causing the aircraft to flip onto its back, filling the cockpit with water.

The pilot egressed underwater, through the left door and inflated his life vest.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT DEPARTED LILY LAKE WHICH IS PART OF THE GRAND RAPIDS, MN AIRPORT (GPZ). THE PILOT INTENDED TO FLY TO HIS PROPERTY ON SHOAL LAKE, JUST NORTH OF THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS, MN.

PRIOR TO LANDING ON SHOAL LAKE, HE MADE A COUPLE OF LOW PASSES. PRIOR TO SETTING UP FOR HIS LANDING, HE RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 3-4 AURAL AUTOPILOT DISCONNECT WARNINGS. HE DID NOT REMEMBER ENGAGING THE AUTOPILOT, BUT FELT THIS WAS NOT A MAJOR CONCERN.

ON FINAL APPROACH TO SHOAL LAKE, HE STATED THAT HE WAS STABILIZED AND ON SPEED. AS SOON AS THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE WATER, IT TURNED HARD TO THE RIGHT AND TILTED TO THE LEFT.

THE PILOT BELIEVES AT THIS POINT, THE LEFT FLOAT DUG INTO THE WATER AND THAT THE LEFT WINGTIP MAY ALSO HAVE STRUCK THE WATER. THE AIRCRAFT NOSE THEN IMPACTED THE WATER, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP ONTO ITS BACK, FILLING THE COCKPIT WITH WATER.

THE PILOT EGRESSED UNDERWATER, THROUGH THE LEFT DOOR AND INFLATED HIS LIFE VEST.

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 CEN13LA376Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGrand Rapids, MNThe loss of directional control during landing because the autopilot engaged for undetermined reasons because water and recovery damage precluded detailed examination of system components.Jun 25, 2013 · Substantial damage