What happened
The incident occurred during a training flight involving a water landing maneuver. The pilot was operating under the supervision of a certified flight instructor (CFI) as part of a dual-student exercise. Environmental conditions included a ten-knot crosswind blowing at a 90-degree angle to the runway or landing path.
As the aircraft approached the landing surface, the student pilot maintained the aircraft in approximately a ten-degree crab alignment with the wind. Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced hard from right to left. The flight instructor immediately attempted remedial control inputs to stabilize the aircraft and prevent further impact. Despite these efforts, the aircraft continued to bounce with sufficient force to sustain structural damage.
The investigation
Post-incident examination revealed specific mechanical damage resulting from the excessive vertical loads experienced during the bounce sequence. The primary area of concern was the empennage section of the airframe. Inspection confirmed that the horizontal stabilizer had been compromised due to the severity of the impacts against the water surface.
Findings
The sequence of events indicates a loss of control effectiveness during the critical phase of landing in adverse wind conditions. The combination of the crosswind component and the crab angle likely contributed to the lateral instability observed upon initial contact with the water. The inability to arrest the bounce cycle resulted in cumulative damage that exceeded the structural tolerance of the horizontal stabilizer assembly.