What happened
The pilot was operating a float-equipped aircraft on his first flight in ninety days. During the final phase of the operation, he was conducting an approach for a water landing. While maneuvering toward the touchdown zone, the pilot reported that his attention was directed toward the adjacent beach to gauge his lateral distance from the shore.
This focus on external visual references contributed to a premature descent. The floatplane contacted the water surface earlier than anticipated. Upon initial impact, the aircraft bounced upward and subsequently struck the water again. During this second touchdown event, structural failure occurred on the right-hand float, which buckled under the stress. The loss of support on that side caused the aircraft to pitch forward violently, resulting in a nose-over attitude.
The investigation
Examination of the wreckage confirmed significant deformation of the right float assembly. The sequence of events indicated that the initial hard landing and subsequent bounce placed excessive loads on the flotation gear. The buckling of the right float directly led to the loss of directional control and the final nose-over position.
Findings
Contributing factors included the pilot's fixation on external visual cues rather than flight instruments during a critical phase of flight. The premature touchdown and bounce were direct results of this distraction. The structural failure of the right float was a consequence of the impact forces generated by the hard landing.