What happened
The pilot was operating the airplane on the surface, preparing for departure. The conditions involved rough water, which necessitated the use of the plow taxi technique to maintain control and forward momentum. During this phase of ground movement, the aircraft experienced an uncommanded pull to the right side.
Upon inspection following the incident, significant structural damage was identified. The right wing sustained impact damage, as did the spar of the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that no object in the water was visible at the time of the event, suggesting the cause of the strike was not immediately apparent during operations.
The investigation
A physical examination of the aircraft was conducted to determine the extent and nature of the damage. The inspection confirmed structural compromise to the wing and stabilizer components consistent with an external impact or hydrodynamic force encountered during the taxi phase.