What happened
The aircraft was operating at an altitude of approximately 300 feet above the surface of the bay. The pilot and a passenger were engaged in sightseeing and fishing activities. During this phase of flight, the pilot initiated a turn to establish a downwind heading. Immediately following the maneuver, the aircraft began to lose airspeed and entered a stall condition.
The pilot attempted to recover by advancing the throttle; however, the engine did not respond to the input. Recognizing the imminent loss of power, the pilot lowered the nose of the aircraft to regain flying speed. As the aircraft approached the water surface, the pilot flared the controls to achieve a touchdown in a normal landing attitude, resulting in a controlled water landing.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical status of the engine and the pilot's actions during the emergency. Examination revealed that the engine failed to respond to throttle inputs during the critical phase of flight. No other mechanical anomalies were noted that would have prevented normal operation prior to this event.
Findings
The primary factor in this incident was the unresponsive engine which led to a loss of power at low altitude. The pilot's decision to continue the flight over water without adequate margin for error contributed to the severity of the situation, although the subsequent water landing was executed with skill. The stall occurred as a direct result of the power loss during the turn.
Safety message
Pilots operating over large bodies of water should be aware that engine failure at low altitude leaves minimal options for recovery. Maintaining adequate airspeed and altitude margins is critical when flying in areas where emergency landing sites are limited to water surfaces.