20151114022009A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4 · Morganton, NC · November 14, 2015

Date: November 14, 2015 · 14:15 local
Place: Morganton, NC
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N1204L
NTSB investigation: NTSBGAA16CA062
Reported as: Consolidated Aeronautics Lake LA-4
Reported engine: Lycoming I0360 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 452 total226 in this make and model82 in the last 90 days

N1204LRegistered now · Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4S/N 709 Airframe modelConsolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4 Engine modelLycoming I0360 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.

On November 14, 2015 at approximately 1415 local time N1204L, a LA-4-200, attempted a water takeoff from lake james, NC. Gusting winds were reported in the area during the time of the attempted takeoff and the pilot stated there were moderate seas. At full throttle and 55 knots, rotation speed for this aircraft is 60 knots, the pilot said he caught a wave that pitched the nose of N1204L up. When the aircraft settled back on the water it was immediately thrown into a right-hand spin and stopped instantly. This is also known as a water loop. The pilot could not determine if the aircraft hit debris or if the right sponson caught a wave resulting in the water loop. The right sponson was damaged. The right wingtip sustained damage and the right wing had rippling across the upper surface. The right side of the fuselage had a puncture hole. The pilot reported the event to the NTSB.

As the FAA filed it

ON NOVEMBER 14, 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 1415 LOCAL TIME N1204L, A LA-4-200, ATTEMPTED A WATER TAKEOFF FROM LAKE JAMES, NC. GUSTING WINDS WERE REPORTED IN THE AREA DURING THE TIME OF THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF AND THE PILOT STATED THERE WERE MODERATE SEAS. AT FULL THROTTLE AND 55 KNOTS, ROTATION SPEED FOR THIS AIRCRAFT IS 60 KNOTS, THE PILOT SAID HE CAUGHT A WAVE THAT PITCHED THE NOSE OF N1204L UP. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED BACK ON THE WATER IT WAS IMMEDIATELY THROWN INTO A RIGHT-HAND SPIN AND STOPPED INSTANTLY. THIS IS ALSO KNOWN AS A WATER LOOP. THE PILOT COULD NOT DETERMINE IF THE AIRCRAFT HIT DEBRIS OR IF THE RIGHT SPONSON CAUGHT A WAVE RESULTING IN THE WATER LOOP. THE RIGHT SPONSON WAS DAMAGED. THE RIGHT WINGTIP SUSTAINED DAMAGE AND THE RIGHT WING HAD RIPPLING ACROSS THE UPPER SURFACE. THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE HAD A PUNCTURE HOLE. THE PILOT REPORTED THE EVENT TO THE NTSB.

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 GAA16CA062Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportMorganton, NCThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the departure, resulting in substantial damage to the airplanes right wing.Nov 14, 2015 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N1204L · 3

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 20020929032429ILevel Off Touchdown · Poughkeepsie, NY(-23) According to personnel of Dutchess County tower, N1204L was in the pattern making approaches to runway 24. On the second attempt, the local controller attempted several times to advise N1204L that the landing gear appeared to be retracted. No response…Sep 29, 2002 · Minor damage Incident 19920627040389ITo Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct) · Lake George, NYAttempted takeoff in boat wake. Porpoised and became airborne. Stalled and entered water at steep angle.Jun 27, 1992 · Minor damage Incident 19900311013519IDescent · Poughkeepsie, NYComplaints were received that the pilot was flying at an unsafe altitude over their neighborhood.Mar 11, 1990