What happened
The pilot reported that he was operating a seaplane at Meyers Chuck, Alaska. The tide was out, leaving insufficient room for takeoff within the protected bay. Consequently, the pilot elected to perform the takeoff on the ocean side of the area.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft struck a large wave. This impact broke the front struts of the float assembly. Immediately following the strut failure, the right wing struck the water surface. The force of the impact caused the aircraft to nosed over.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical condition of the seaplane floats after the incident. Examination revealed that the front struts were broken due to the high-impact load from the wave. No other structural failures were noted prior to the nosed-over position.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the decision to take off from an exposed ocean area with insufficient depth and room. The pilot encountered a large wave that compromised the float integrity. The loss of strut support led directly to the wing striking the water and the subsequent nose-over.
Safety message
Pilots operating seaplanes in tidal areas must carefully assess water depth and wave conditions. Taking off from exposed ocean areas when protected bays are unavailable due to low tide carries significant risk of structural damage and loss of control.