What happened
The pilot of an amphibian airplane was conducting a water landing when a sudden gust of wind impacted the aircraft upon touchdown. This gust caught the right wing and lifted it rapidly. As the right side rose, the left wing sponson, or float, struck the water surface with force. The impact caused the airplane to pivot sharply around its longitudinal axis. This uncontrolled rotation resulted in damage to the engine support structure, both wings, and the fuselage.
The investigation
The report details the physical sequence of events leading to the structural failure. The primary mechanical issue was the asymmetric lift generated by the wind gust on the right wing during the critical phase of water contact. The subsequent impact of the left sponson transferred significant lateral force through the airframe, causing the observed damage to the engine mounts and fuselage.
Findings
The accident was caused by aerodynamic instability during the landing flare. The pilot reported that the wind gust lifted the right wing very quickly, leading to the left float catching the water and pulling the aircraft around. This sequence indicates a loss of directional control due to environmental factors rather than mechanical failure or pilot error in operation.