# NTSB MIA98LA014: Aerofab Lake LA-250, N85HG, Miami, FL, October 29, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 29, 1997, 18:09 local (23:09 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL - Location: 25.7743° N, 80.1937° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Miami, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.7743&lon=-80.1937&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 4, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38420 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38420/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA014 ## Probable cause loss of engine power for an undetermined reason(s), which resulted in a forced landing and subsequent encounter with rough water. ## Analysis The pilot stated that his engine was running rough and losing power. He made a forced landing in water about 3 miles south of the shoreline. The pilot said that after the airplane touched down in the water, he began water taxing towards land. He further said that because darkness was near, he step-taxied toward land to arrive sooner. Due to insufficient power and fading light, he discontinued the step taxi. At some point during the taxi, one wing began riding lower than the other until the wing was wet, and the taxi speed became slower. Eventually, he reached land, where he moored the airplane. The pilot noted that the left break away sponson-pontoon broke away, and the airplane also sustained damage from the dock. The pilot had the airplane towed to a maintenance facility were the engine was examined. No reason was found for the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On October 29, 1997, about 1809 eastern standard time, an Aerofab Lake L-250, N85HG, registered to Elissar Technologies Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, lost power and made a forced landing in water near Miami, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private-pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Fort Lauderdale, Florida about 1715. The pilot stated that his engine was running rough and losing power. He elected to make a forced landing in the water about 3 miles south of the shoreline. After the airplane touched down in the water, the pilot said he began water taxiing towards land. He further said that "because darkness was not far off, I also step-taxied toward land so as to get there sooner...although due to insufficient power and fading light I discontinued this step taxi...at some point during the taxi one wing began riding lower and lower than the other until the wing was wet. This made taxi slower." Eventually he reached land, where he moored the airplane. It was the pilot's belief that the time was about 1900. In addition, the pilot noted that the left break away sponson-pontoon broke away, and the airplane also sustained damage from the dock. The pilot had the airplane towed to a maintenance facility were the engine was examined. There was no determination made on the reason the engine lost power. The pilot's completed NTSB Form 6120.1/2, was received at the Miami Field Office, January 21, 1998. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor) - landing gear,float assembly - overload - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - terrain condition - water ## Aircraft - Registration: [N85HG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N85HG), registered now, S/N 81, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerofab Inc. LAKE LA-250 (LAKE LA-25) - Registry model: [Aerofab LAKE LA-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerofab-lake-la-250) (registry code 5110321) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 81 - Airframe hours: 1079 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-AA1AD 270 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Elissar Technologies Inc. - Registered owner: Patrick M. Byrne - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 16, 1997, 67 hours before - Departed: FLL, FT LAUDERDALE, FL - Destination: EYW, KEY WEST, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 517 total, 157 in this make and model, 394 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 50° at 10 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 19971029038979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971029038979A), Oct 29, 1997: Lakeac 250(LAKE), Miami, FL, Substantial damage. Lost power. Elected land in water. During landing dug a wing into water causing a water loop. Towed to dock. (-23) refer to attached record of telephone… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.