Accident Details
On March 17, 2012, at 1230 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Merlin airplane, registration N6113Y, was substantially damaged during takeoff from Pleasant Lake, Maine. The certificated private pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.
Witness Account
A witness reported that he and the pilot made adjustments to the aircraft floats prior to the pilot's departure from the frozen lake. The witness observed the pilot taxi on the ice and then depart to the north. As the airplane reached an altitude of approximately 100 feet, the right wing "dipped a little" and the airplane banked "hard left and went down." The airplane impacted the frozen lake nose first and bounced, before impacting again and breaking the ice.
Pilot Account
In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he purchased the airplane in 2005 and had flown about 1 hour in it since then. The most recent flight, conducted a few weeks prior to the accident, revealed that the airplane "pulled to the right." The pilot subsequently made adjustments to the floats to ensure they were aligned properly. On the day of the accident, the pilot taxied around the lake for a while before departing. As the airplane reached approximately 100 feet, it "felt funny and nosed down." He attempted to set the airplane back down on the lake, but the nose impacted the lake and the airplane bounced. The pilot reported no loss of engine power during the flight.
In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report, the pilot indicated that during departure it felt as if a gust of wind struck the airplane. The airplane climbed to the right and the nose dropped straight down, impacting the lake.
Weather and Examination
The winds reported at the closest airport, 10 nautical miles to the east, were from 280 degrees at 4 knots. An examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed flight control continuity from the cockpit to all flight control surfaces.