What happened
The pilot initiated a taxi to a takeoff point located farther out than usual. The aircraft struggled to transition onto the step due to very dense atmospheric conditions, with the temperature estimated at 78 degrees. Upon reaching the abort point, the pilot applied back pressure to lift the seaplane off the water. However, the aircraft failed to gain sufficient altitude and struck trees during the climb-out.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the performance of the seaplane under high-density altitude conditions. The primary finding was that the heavy air prevented the aircraft from achieving the necessary lift-to-drag ratio for a safe climb gradient after aborting the takeoff.
Findings
- High density altitude significantly degraded aircraft performance during the critical takeoff phase.
- The pilot's decision to taxi to an extended takeoff point did not compensate for the lack of air density.
- Inability to clear obstacles was the direct result of insufficient climb performance after the aborted takeoff.
Safety message
Pilots must carefully calculate takeoff performance based on actual temperature and pressure conditions. Aborted takeoffs from seaplanes require careful consideration of remaining water length and potential obstacle clearance requirements, especially in high-density altitude environments.