# Accident 20170707016539A: Rainbow Sky Reach (Pty) Ltd BUSHCAT, Winton, NC, July 7, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 7, 2017, 15:00 local time
- Place: Winton, NC
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.4481° N, 76.9461° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4481&lon=-76.9461&mi=10
- Aircraft: N253BC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N253BC-2017-12-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Rainbow Sky Reach BUSHCAT (registry code 06001AB, https://openairdocs.org/model/rainbow-sky-reach-bushcat) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912ULS series (registry code 55572, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAINBOW SKY REACH (PTY) LTD BUSHCAT
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912ULS
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 4,237 total, 9 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA397](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA397) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170707016539A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

07/08/2017 THE PILOT REPORTED A NORMAL APPROACH TO THE WATER WAS MADE. UPON MAKING CONTACT WITH THE WATER, HE SAID THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SLOW NORMALLY AS IT CAME ONTO THE "STEP".  A SUDDEN MODERATE TO SEVERE GUST OF WIND CAME FROM RIGHT TO THE LEFT.  HE SAID HE IMMEDIATELY INPUTED RIGHT STICK TO COUNTER, BUT THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO EFFECT, SO HE APPLIED POWER AND AFT STICK IN ORDER TO EXECUTE A "GO AROUND".  AT THAT POINT, THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER FORWARD AND LEFT.

THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP IMMEDIATELY UNDERWATER AND UPSIDE DOWN.  BOTH OCCUPANTS EGRESSED FROM THE AIRCRAFT UNINJURED.

07/10/2017 INSPECTORS BROWN AND KELLY DROVE TO WINTON, NC.  THERE THEY MET WITH THE HERTFORD COUNTY CHIEF DEPUTY ^WILL LIVERMAN ^WHO ESCORTED THEM TO THE AIRCRAFT.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS PLACED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY THUS THE NEED TO HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT ESCORT THE INSPECTORS TO THE AIRCRAFT.  ONCE ON THE SCENE THE INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT WHICH WAS LEFT UPSIDE DOWN AFTER IT WAS DRAGGED FROM THE CHOWAN RIVER.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THROTTLE WAS LEFT IN THE FULL POWER SETTING WITH THE OPERATING LIMITATIONS, PINK SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE AND THE AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER STILL ONBOARD.   THE REGISTRATION WAS TORN BUT THE PREVIOUS OWNERS NAME WAS CLEARLY VISIBLE.

07/10/2017 INSPECTORS BROWN AND KELLY DROVE TO SUFFOLK, VA TO PROTOCOM AVIATION WHERE THE AIRCRAFT WAS BASED.   THE INSPECTORS MET WITH ^JONATHAN GUIBAS^ WHO GOT THE AIRCRAFT LOGBOOK FOR REVIEW.  THE AIRCRAFT LOGBOOK LOOKED TO BE IN ORDER BUT NEITHER A CURRENT REGISTRATION NOR A BILL OF SALE WERE EVER PRODUCED.

10/04/2017 THE AIRCRAFT WAS DETERMINED TO BE DESTROYED BY THE OWNER'S INSURANCE COMPANY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB GAA17CA397](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA397), Jul 7, 2017: Rainbow Sky Reach Bushcat (N253BC), Ahoskie, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain proper lateral/bank control during the landing in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a nose-over into water.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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