# NTSB GAA19CA051: RIchard Silva Seawind, N46SW, Pocono Summit, PA, October 12, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 12, 2018, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Pocono Summit, PA - Coordinates: 41.122501, -75.41333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1225&lon=-75.4133&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 16, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98484 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98484/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98484 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA051 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to attempt to take off from a lake in high crosswind conditions, which resulted in the right wing lifting, the left wing impacting the water, and the airplane bouncing and then impacting the water hard. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Silva Richard F SEAWIND, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=95708CE), [All aircraft, 3,100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Silva Richard F SEAWIND, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=95708CE), [All aircraft, 9,308 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Silva Richard F SEAWIND, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=95708CE), [All aircraft, 3,969 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Silva Richard F SEAWIND, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=95708CE), [All aircraft, 1,014 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Silva Richard F SEAWIND, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=95708CE), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md) - [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Silva Richard F SEAWIND, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=95708CE), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Silva Richard F SEAWIND, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=95708CE), [All aircraft, 1,014 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Silva Richard F SEAWIND, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=95708CE), [All aircraft, 1,130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Silva Richard F SEAWIND, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=95708CE), [All aircraft, 1,330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Silva Richard F SEAWIND, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=95708CE), [All aircraft, 1,514 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he attempted to take off from a lake with a 20- to 30-knot crosswind. A video of the takeoff showed that, as the right wing lifted, the left wingtip contacted the water. Subsequently, the seaplane bounced and impacted the water hard with the nose oriented to the left. The pilot was able to correct the course heading and continued to water taxi without further incident. The pilot added that he should not have departed in high crosswind conditions and admitted to pilot error. The seaplane sustained substantial damage to the right aileron. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who conducted a postaccident examination of the seaplane reported that he established flight control continuity and that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the seaplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The airline transport pilot of the amphibious airplane reported that he attempted to takeoff from a lake with a 20 to 30 knot crosswind. A video of the takeoff showed that as the right-wing lifted, the left-wing tip contacted the water; subsequently, the airplane bounced, touched down again hard with the nose oriented to the left. The pilot was able to correct course heading and continued to water taxi without further incident. The pilot added that he should not have departed in high crosswind conditions and admitted to pilot error. The seaplane sustained substantial damage to the right aileron. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46SW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46SW-2022-11-23), registration cancelled 2022-11-23, S/N 003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RIchard Silva Seawind (3000) - Registry model: [Silva Richard F SEAWIND](https://openairdocs.org/model/silva-richard-f-seawind) (registry code 95708CE) (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: 003 - Year built: 1993 - Airframe hours: 279 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-KIE5 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 5, 2018 - Departed: Pocono Summit, PA - Flight plan: Unknown - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown; flight hours: 20,269 total, 92 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KMPO, 2 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 20181012019809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181012019809A), Oct 12, 2018: Silva Richard F SEAWIND, Pocono Summit, PA, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Attempted to depart stillwater lake when he lost control of the aircraft causing damage to the right aileron, right wing and breaking… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 31, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98484. 433 KB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 189 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481698&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481699&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(FAA)-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481700&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.