Incident Overview
A float-equipped airplane, occupied solely by the pilot, was positioning to pick up several passengers from a remote lagoon. After completing a landing, the pilot initiated step taxiing with the flaps extended. During the taxi, the airplane encountered a strong quartering gust of wind from the left front. The gust lifted the left wing, causing the right wing to strike the water surface.
Damage Details
As a result of the wing striking the water, damage occurred to the leading edge of the wingtip, the upper surface of the wing, and the auxiliary fuel tank. The extent of the damage is limited to these components as reported.
Operational Context
The pilot was the sole occupant at the time of the incident. The airplane was in the process of repositioning to a pickup point for passengers. The step taxiing maneuver, common for floatplanes, involves partially planing on the floats while moving on the water. The flaps were extended during this phase, a configuration used to increase lift at low speeds.