Incident Overview
A pilot reported that after making a pass over a lake to find a landing area with minimal boat traffic, he conducted a water landing that was uneventful. Following the landing, the pilot began to water taxi the airplane. Shortly thereafter, the pilot and his passenger observed a large wave approaching at approximately a 45-degree angle from the port side of the aircraft.
Wave Impact and Loss of Control
As the wave struck the airplane's pontoons, the pilot experienced a strong left rudder deflection. This caused the airplane to nose over into the water. The pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the airplane's nose section. No other details regarding the extent of damage were provided in the pilot's account.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that the landing was normal and that the wave encounter occurred unexpectedly during water taxi. He noted that the search for a landing site with less boat traffic was intended to avoid such hazards.