SEA94LA181

While attempting a takeoff in strong crosswinds from a narrow lake, the pilot was not able to maintain directional control of the aircraft. He therefore elected to abort the takeoff, but experienced 'limited steerability' because the aircraft was not water-rudder equipped. As the aircraft slowed, the pilot was not able to keep it from impacting a nearby boat dock.

On July 8, 1994, at 1000 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Consolidated PBY-5A, N2172N, collided with a boat dock during an aborted takeoff on Devil's Lake, Lincoln City, Oregon. The certified flight instructor and his student were not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The local instructional flight, which departed Astoria, Oregon about 0930, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the flight instructor, the purpose of the flight was to give dual instruction, and to land on a body of water to check for leaks in the hull. In order to check the hull, the pilot elected to land on a narrow lake, which averaged between one- quarter and one-half mile wide in the area where he landed. At the time of the landing, the winds were blowing at a speed estimated by the pilot to be about 25 knots, and at an angle of 20 to 70 degrees from the direction of the takeoff run dictated by the main channel of the lake. After the landing, the pilot was advised that there was a leak in the hull, and he decided that he should take off, and make his next landing at an airport on land. Because the aircraft is not water-rudder equipped, the pilot could not turn it to taxi downwind, so he was unable to use the full length of the lake for his takeoff run. Instead, he elected to initiate the takeoff run from where the aircraft had come to a stop after the landing.

Just after getting the aircraft on the step during the takeoff run, it began turning into the wind, and the pilot found he had to use full opposite rudder in an attempt to maintain directional control. Finding that the rudder application was not enough to keep the takeoff run straight, the pilot also reduced power on the downwind engine. Even with rudder application and differential power, the pilot found he could not maintain adequate control, and elected to abort the takeoff. During the abort, the aircraft decelerated in a "confined area," and because of its "limited steerability" impacted a boat dock prior to coming to a full stop.