- Date
- September 19, 2010, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Renton, WA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N24150Dehavilland Beaver DHC-2 MK.1
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 16, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration FSDO
- FAA report
- 20100919044519A
- Case key
- 77342
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
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the float-equipped airplane during an aborted water takeoff, resulting in a dragged wing.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he performed a preflight inspection and then began to taxi the airplane from the seaplane base to the departure area. He reported encountering a heavy rain shower during taxi, with wind out of the south between 4-6 knots. The air traffic control tower cleared the pilot for a westbound departure; however, he elected to continue with a crosswind takeoff. The pilot applied left-wing-down aileron control inputs as he applied engine power. As the airplane accelerated, it began a drift to the left. The pilot reported that he was unable to stop the drift with the application of full right rudder, and that during this time he may have inadvertently relaxed the aileron control input. The pilot elected to abort the takeoff, and as he reduced engine power the right wing struck the water; the airplane incurred substantial damage to the wing spar and aileron during the impact sequence. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failures.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he performed a preflight inspection, and then began to taxi the airplane from the seaplane base to the departure area. He reported encountering a heavy rain shower during taxi, with winds out of the south between 4-6 knots. The air traffic control tower cleared the pilot for a westbound departure, however, he elected to continue with a crosswind takeoff. The pilot applied left wing down aileron control inputs, as he applied engine power. As the airplane accelerated, it began a drift to the left. The pilot reported that he was unable to stop the drift with the application of full right rudder, and that during this time he may have inadvertently relaxed the aileron control input. The pilot elected to abort the takeoff, and as he reduced engine power the right wing struck the water, resulting in substantial damage to the wing spar and aileron. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or failures.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N24150
- Reported as
- Dehavilland Beaver DHC-2 MK.1
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1259
- Airframe hours
- 5,066
- Engine
- P&W R-985 SERIES, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 22, 2009
- Departed
- RNT · Renton, WA
- Destination
- RNT · Renton, WA
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- W36 · Will Rogers Wiley Post, runway 30, water
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 64
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Multi-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 14, 2009
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 12,437 total · 120 in this make and model · 6,620 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.73 inHg
- Observed at
- RNT, 2 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 7, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 961 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.