# NTSB ERA09CA545: Kermit Weeks Quicksilver, N69MX, Polk City, FL, September 25, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 25, 2009, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Polk City, FL - Coordinates: 28.166944, -81.808052 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.1669&lon=-81.8081&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74834 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA545 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74834/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74834 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA545 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to adequately inspect the landing gear floats for water prior to takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: wheel/ski/float](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Weeks Kermit QUICKSLVR SPRINT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246/cases.md?model=05625J1), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Weeks Kermit QUICKSLVR SPRINT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05625J1), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: cG/weight distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Weeks Kermit QUICKSLVR SPRINT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061040/cases.md?model=05625J1), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Weeks Kermit QUICKSLVR SPRINT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05625J1), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Weeks Kermit QUICKSLVR SPRINT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05625J1), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis After the pilot landed the amphibious ultralight on a lake, he taxied to the seaplane ramp and parked with about 25 percent of the floats in the water. After about 45 minutes, he attempted a takeoff on the lake and the ultralight would not lift off. He checked the floats and found a significant amount of water inside. He pumped out what he thought was all of the water and attempted another water takeoff; again the aircraft would not become airborne. He began to taxi back to the hangar and decided to perform a takeoff on the grass runway to avoid taxiing over some rough terrain. Shortly after takeoff, the nose pitched up to an excessive angle. The pilot attempted to maintain aircraft control; however the ultralight settled and impacted the runway, resulting in structural damage to the wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there was water in the floats after the accident and that he did not inspect the floats for water before the final takeoff attempt. ## Factual narrative After the pilot landed the amphibious ultralight on a lake, he taxied to the seaplane ramp and parked with about 25 percent of the floats in the water. After about 45 minutes, he attempted a takeoff on the lake and the ultralight would not lift off. He checked the floats and found a significant amount of water inside. He pumped out what he thought was all of the water and attempted another water takeoff; again the aircraft would not become airborne. He began to taxi back to the hangar and decided to perform a takeoff on the grass runway to avoid taxiing over some rough terrain. Shortly after takeoff, the nose pitched up to an excessive angle. The pilot attempted to maintain aircraft control; however the ultralight settled and impacted the runway, resulting in structural damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there was water in the floats after the accident and that he did not inspect the floats for water before the final takeoff attempt. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N69MX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N69MX), registered now, S/N 423, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Kermit Weeks Quicksilver (Sprint II) - Registry model: [Weeks Kermit QUICKSLVR SPRINT II](https://openairdocs.org/model/weeks-kermit-quickslvr-sprint-ii) (registry code 05625J1) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Ultralight, amateur-built - Serial number: 423 - Airframe hours: 21 - Engines: Rotax 582-UL-DCDI 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kermit Weeks - Registered owner: Kermit Weeks - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 4, 2008, 3 hours before - Departed: FA08, Polk City, FL - Destination: FA08, Polk City, FL - Airport: FA08, World's Greatest Aircraft Coll, runway 12, 2,600 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 5,000 total, 15 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: LAL, 16 nm away ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 3, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74834. 654 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 595 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320479&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320480&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.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.