# NTSB CEN21LA321: Swann Lynn J Seawind 3000, N8UU, Charlevoix, MI, July 3, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 3, 2021, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Charlevoix, MI - Coordinates: 45.388545, -85.320435 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3885&lon=-85.3204&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103484 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA321 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103484/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103484 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA321 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons based on available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [Swann Lynn J SEAWIND 3000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=056269H), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Swann Lynn J SEAWIND 3000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=056269H), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Swann Lynn J SEAWIND 3000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=056269H), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was in cruise flight at 5,500 ft in his amphibious airplane with the landing gear down over a lake on the last leg of an 8-day cross-country trip to his home airport, when the engine “sputtered” several times and then stopped operating. The pilot reported that at the same time the engine lost power, a “burnt” smell also entered the cockpit. The pilot conducted a forced landing to the lake. During the landing flare the landing gear caught in the water and the airplane nosed forward into the lake. The airplane came to a stop on the surface upright but began to fill with water. The pilot was rescued before the airplane sank. The pilot had recently purchased the airplane and was flying it back to his home airport. The pilot reported several issues with the airplane that resulted in several mishaps during the 8-day trip. During the forced landing, the pilot was unable to put down flaps, or retract the landing gear, because the airplane had no hydraulic pressure. In a conversation with the FAA, and because of a previous issue with the landing gear, the pilot agreed to fly with the landing gear down to ensure a good landing at his destination. The airplane was not recovered; therefore, the engine could not be examined, and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. Additionally, based on the pilot’s flight, it’s likely the airplane was not airworthy before the pilot’s initial departure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8UU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8UU), registered now, S/N 118, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SWANN LYNN J SEAWIND 3000 - Registry model: [Swann Lynn J SEAWIND 3000](https://openairdocs.org/model/swann-lynn-j-seawind-3000) (registry code 056269H) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 118 - Year built: 2008 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: KISQ, Manistique, MI - Destination: N98, Boyne City, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: KCVX, 5 nm away - METAR: METAR KCVX 032355Z AUTO 26009KT 10SM CLR 25/17 A2984 RMK AO2 T02470170 10263 20235 ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20210703012469I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210703012469I), Jul 3, 2021: Swann Lynn J SEAWIND 3000, Manistque, MI, Minor damage. On July 03, 2021 at 1440 local time, an experimental seawind 3000 amphibious aircraft, N8UU, [privacy data omitted]operated by a private pilot, received minor… - [Accident 20210703012519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210703012519A), Jul 3, 2021: Swann Lynn J SEAWIND 3000, Beaver Island, MI, Substantial damage. On July 03, 2021 at 1949 local time, an experimental seawind 3000 amphibious aircraft, N8UU, [privacy data omitted]operated by a private pilot, received… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 28, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103484. 747 KB in all. - Pilot statement to FAA (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12707122&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Returningtoflying-Rel.pdf - Aircraft not recovered (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 644 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12706711&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=No%20recovery-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.