CEN14LA146

The pilot reported that, after a local flight, he decided to land on a snow-covered frozen lake. The airplane landed in 18-inch-deep snow and nosed down shortly after touchdown, which resulted in damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot reported that, earlier in the day, he had been flying a powered-parachute (not the accident airplane) from a different area of the same frozen lake that only had 1 to 2 inches of snow cover, which led him to believe it would be safe to land during the accident flight. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

On February 15, 2014, at 1730 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built Fogg model Quicksilver MX II airplane, N94567, was substantially damaged while landing on a snow-covered frozen lake near Holland, Michigan. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, which departed Park Township Airport (HLN), Holland, Michigan, at 1700. The pilot reported that after a local flight he decided to land on the snow-covered frozen lake. The airplane landed in 18 inch deep snow and nosed down shortly after touchdown. The fuselage and right wing were substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot reported that earlier in the day he had been flying a powered-parachute (not the accident airplane) from a different area of the same frozen lake that only had 1-2 inches of snow cover. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.