- Date
- July 16, 2002, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Palermo, ME
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N4504MPiper PA-11S
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 26, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20020716017439A
- Case key
- 55238
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his inadequate compensation for wind. A factor was the crosswind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot flew to Sheepscot Lake to test and monitor the oil pressure gauge that he had just installed. During a high speed taxi test toward the northeast, the pilot said the wind lifted the left wing and dropped the right wing into the water, which caused the aircraft to nose over. The front spreader bar on the floats broke, and the propeller struck the right float and it filled with water. Wind at an airport 15 miles away was from 350 degrees at 10 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On July 16, 2002, approximately 1000 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-11S, a floatplane, N4504M, was substantially damaged during a high speed taxi on Sheepscot Lake, Palermo, Maine. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector interviewed the pilot. According to the inspector, the pilot had just replaced an adjustable oil pressure relief valve on the engine. He then flew to Sheepscot Lake to test and monitor the oil pressure gauge.
During a high speed taxi test toward the northeast, the pilot said the wind lifted the left wing and dropped the right wing into the water, which caused the aircraft to nose over. The front spreader bar on the floats broke, and the propeller struck the right float and it filled with water.
The FAA inspector performed an on-scene examination of the airplane. According to the inspector, the left float had separated from the airplane, but the right float exhibited more impact damage. The propeller was also damaged.
The pilot reported a total of 4,000 flight hours, of which, 400 hours were in make and model. The pilot also reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies.
Weather reported at Augusta State Airport (AUG), 15 nautical miles southwest, at 0953, included wind from 350 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 9,500 feet, temperature 68 degrees F, and dewpoint 54 degrees F.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4504M
- Reported as
- Piper PA-11S
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 11-7
- Airframe hours
- 4,961.2
- Engine
- Continental C90-8F, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Kenneth Foster Ireland
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 1998 · 16.5 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Palermo, ME
- Destination
- NONE · Sheepscot Lake, ME
- Airport
- None
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 74
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Last flight review
- March 20, 2001
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 4,000 total · 400 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.85 inHg
- Observed at
- AUG, 15 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2003, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 536 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N4504M · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.