What happened
The incident occurred during a scheduled air taxi operation involving a commercial certificated pilot operating an amphibious float-equipped airplane. Following a landing on the water, the pilot began taxiing the aircraft toward a designated seaplane dock.
As the airplane approached the docking area, the pilot shut off the engine to facilitate the final approach to the dock. However, a strong tidal current immediately took hold of the unpowered vessel. The current carried the airplane past its intended stopping point. Without engine power to counteract the flow, the aircraft drifted backward across the water surface.
The drift continued until the airplane made contact with a wooden piling located near the docking area. The impact caused damage to the airframe. Subsequent inspection by the operator revealed that the left aileron was not in its original condition; it had been removed for prior repair work. A 37-inch portion of the aileron trailing edge had been replaced, but the structural integrity or alignment may have been compromised during the previous maintenance.
The investigation
The operator conducted an initial assessment of the damage following the incident. The examination focused on the area of impact and the existing maintenance records for the control surfaces. It was confirmed that the left aileron had undergone partial replacement, specifically a 37-inch section of the trailing edge.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the loss of maneuverability due to engine shutdown while still on the water with active tidal currents. The pilot's decision to cut power before reaching a secure docking position allowed the current to dictate the aircraft's movement. The presence of the wooden piling provided an obstacle that the drifting airplane could not avoid.
The condition of the left aileron, which had been repaired with a partial trailing edge replacement, was noted during the investigation. While the immediate cause was the drift into the piling, the state of the control surface may have influenced the pilot's ability to correct the trajectory if power had been reapplied or if maneuvering was attempted.
Safety message
Pilots operating float-equipped aircraft in areas with significant tidal currents should maintain engine power until the aircraft is securely moored or docked. Shutting off the engine prematurely can result in loss of control and collision with fixed structures.