20130716011739A

Building of aircraft was recently completed by the pilot with assistance from a small group of associates. The aircraft was issued an initial special airworthiness certificate for operating amateur built aircraft on 06/27/2013. Pilot had done several high speed taxi tests since the issuance of the airworthiness certificate, but aircraft had not been flown. Pilot reported that on 07/16/2013, he made a couple of high speed taxi tests, which went well and then he intended to take the aircraft airborne about a foot or 2 off the water and then set it back down on the water. He was initially planning on a flight of about 100 yards or so. On the flight attempt, according to the pilot, the aircraft became airborne and climbed faster than expected once it left the water. At about 10 to 15 feet in the air, he attempted to lower the aircraft to the water and the aircraft descended faster than expected. He then attempted to level the aircraft. The aircraft began to oscillate and gain altitude. At about 25 feet in the air, he pointed the nose down and thinks that he also reduced power and the airspeed started to decay and the aircraft slipped to the left. The aircraft contacted the water in a nose down attitude and a slight right bank. The pilot feels that the nose and right wing impacted the water at about the same time. The engine quit upon impact apparently due to the prop striking the structure that supports it which appears to have been damaged by the impact.