# NTSB ERA13LA198: Franke Russell J Searey, N92319, Polk City, FL, April 11, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 11, 2013, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Polk City, FL - Coordinates: 28.168888, -81.817779 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.1689&lon=-81.8178&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-into takeoff position: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86633 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13LA198 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86633/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86633 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA198 ## Probable cause An inadvertent encounter with the water wake from a larger amphibious airplane before takeoff and the pilot's subsequent inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane during which he failed to note damage caused by the wake encounter. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: water](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Franke Russell J SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md?model=05602EH), [All aircraft, 97 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md) - [Empennage structure: horiz stab misc structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035514): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Franke Russell J SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035514/cases.md?model=05602EH), [All aircraft, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035514/cases.md) - [Action: incomplete action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Franke Russell J SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md?model=05602EH), [All aircraft, 105 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Malfunction; cases with it: [Franke Russell J SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=05602EH), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Empennage structure: horiz stab misc structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035514): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Franke Russell J SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035514/cases.md?model=05602EH), [All aircraft, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035514/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-into takeoff position: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Franke Russell J SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05602EH), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Taxi-into takeoff position: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337); cases with it: [Franke Russell J SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md?model=05602EH), [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md) - [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Franke Russell J SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=05602EH), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333); cases with it: [Franke Russell J SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=05602EH), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337); cases with it: [Franke Russell J SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md?model=05602EH), [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he taxied the amphibious airplane down a boat ramp following a vintage twin-engine amphibious airplane that weighed more than 6,000 pounds. The other airplane took off, and the accident airplane then encountered a 2- to 3-foot water wake. The pilot "quartered" his airplane into the wake, and, subsequently, the right side pitched up, and the left side pitched down. The pilot then looked at the left horizontal stabilizer via a mirror on the airplane's left wing strut, conducted a full flight control check, and noted no anomalies. The pilot then began the takeoff, and the airplane bounced once along the choppy water surface before becoming airborne. Once airborne, the pilot noted pitch control problems and was not able to level the airplane until it reached about 1,800 feet. He was then able to descend the airplane at a rate of about 50 feet per minute by maintaining airspeed just above stall. The pilot circled the lake six times before being able to land. Upon landing, the right wing bounced twice, and, during the second bounce, the right horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged when it dragged through the water. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed a broken outboard left horizontal stabilizer tube that likely broke during the wake encounter. The examination also revealed that the bolt connecting three stabilizer cables had torn into the fabric, which likely resulted in the control stick binding in a pitch-up position upon rotation. ## Factual narrative On April 11, 2013, about 1500 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Searey, N92319, incurred substantial damage during a water taxi, and control binding and additional substantial damage after the subsequent takeoff from Lake Agnes, Polk City, Florida. The private pilot and the passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for the flight, between Lake Agnes and Florida Flying Gators Ultralight Flightpark (3FD4), Groveland, Florida. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.According to the pilot, he taxied the airplane down a boat ramp, following a 1950's Piaggio twin-engine amphibian that weighed in excess of 6,000 pounds. The Piaggio took off, and the Searey then encountered a 2- to 3-foot wake. The pilot "quartered" the Searey into the wake, and when he did, the right side pitched up, and the left side pitched down. The pilot subsequently looked at the left horizontal stabilizer via a mirror on the airplane's left wing strut and conducted a full flight control check with no anomalies noted. He then took off, with the airplane bouncing once along the choppy water surface before becoming airborne. Once airborne, the pilot noted pitch control problems and was not able to level off the airplane until it reached about 1,800 feet. He was then able to descend the airplane at a rate of about 50 feet per minute by maintaining airspeed just above stall. The pilot circled the lake six times before being able to land. The landing included two bounces of the right wing, and during the second bounce, the right horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged when it dragged through the water. Postflight examination of the airplane revealed a broken outboard left horizontal stabilizer tube which the pilot believed occurred during the wake encounter. It also revealed that the bolt connecting the three stabilizer cables had torn into the fabric, which the pilot surmised resulted in binding the control stick in a pitch-up position upon rotation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N92319](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N92319), registered now, S/N 1DK109, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FRANKE RUSSELL J SEAREY - Registry model: [Franke Russell J SEAREY](https://openairdocs.org/model/franke-russell-j-searey) (registry code 05602EH) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1DK109 - Airframe hours: 550 - Engines: Rotax 912S 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 2, 2012, 65 hours before - Departed: NONE, Polk City, FL - Destination: 3FD4, Groveland, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review March 8, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 450 total, 125 in this make and model, 430 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 10 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: LAL, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20130411006469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130411006469A), Apr 11, 2013: Franke Russell J SEAREY, Lake Agnes Pol, FL, Substantial damage. While positioning for take off to the south from lake Agnes pilot was following a larger piaggio twin amphibian which generated a 2 to 3 ft. wake. Due to the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 13, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86633. 614 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 384 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413272&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413273&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413274&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Damage Image (Courtesy of Pilot) (item 4, .PDF, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413275&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Damage%20Image%20(Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)%20-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.