Incident Overview
A pilot of an amphibious, light sport airplane reported that while attempting to land in the ocean waters of an inland cove, the right wing struck a trolling pole, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot had returned from a local area flight and initially tried to land in a more open landing area but was unable to due to large ocean swells. Considering increasingly poor weather conditions and low fuel, he decided to land in a smaller cove that contained fishing boats.
Sequence of Events
During the landing approach, the pilot misjudged the clearance from one of the boats. The right wing subsequently struck a trolling pole, which pivoted the airplane to the right. As a result, the right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Pilot Report
The pilot provided a detailed account of the event, emphasizing that the decision to land in the smaller cove was driven by the combination of large swells in the intended landing area, deteriorating weather, and low fuel. He acknowledged that his misjudgment of the distance from the boat led to the wing strike.
Aircraft Condition
The airplane, an amphibious light sport model, was equipped for water landings. The only reported damage was to the right wing, which was described as substantial. No other damage to the aircraft or injuries to the pilot were mentioned.
Investigation Findings
The investigation focused on the pilot's actions and the environmental factors. The pilot's misjudgment of clearance from the fishing boat was identified as the direct cause of the collision. The large ocean swells and weather conditions were noted as contributing circumstances but not as causal factors.