Incident Overview
A pilot reported that while following a river in level cruise flight at 200 feet above the water, he became temporarily distracted while adjusting the engine power. The airplane subsequently descended and struck the surface of the water. Following the collision, the pilot climbed the airplane to 500 feet above ground level and proceeded directly to the nearest airport.
Landing and Postaccident Findings
Upon landing, the propeller and nose of the airplane struck the ground. A postaccident inspection revealed that the nose wheel had been torn from the airplane during the collision with the water. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall and fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Nature of the Event
The incident involved a low-altitude flight over a river, with the pilot's attention diverted during a power adjustment. The subsequent water impact resulted in structural damage that was not apparent until landing, when the nose gear failure caused additional impact damage. No other details regarding the aircraft type, registration, occupants, or weather were provided.