ERA19LA229

The pilot was conducting a test flight following minor maintenance he had performed on the airplane. While attempting to land on water in calm wind conditions (he described the water as “glass smooth”), the pilot applied forward stick and immediately found himself underwater. He later stated he believed he lost depth perception when he leveled out above the water's surface prior to touchdown and pushed the nose down to land. Witnesses report the airplane nosed over just prior to landing.

On July 16, 2019, about 1700 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built SeaRey amphibious airplane, N632FG, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Crescent, Florida. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot stated he had been working on the airplane trying to solve an engine start problem. He discovered the engine had lost its ground to the airframe and decided to conduct a test flight. He departed and flew for about 15 minutes before returning for a full stop landing on the water. The pilot stated that the wind was calm and the water was “glass smooth.” During the landing, he applied forward stick then "instantly I found myself underwater." He later stated he believed he lost depth perception when he leveled for touchdown and was higher than he thought. Witnesses report the airplane nosed over just prior to landing. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector traveled to the site and examined the airplane. The nose was partially separated from the fuselage. A subsequent engine test run was performed by friends of the pilot, who reported that the engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously without interruption.