Accident Details
A pilot was conducting a post-maintenance flight check in a float-equipped airplane at a remote unimproved seaplane base. The departure was from a short waterlane. During taxi, the pilot left the wing flaps in the up position to aid in turning the airplane on the water. After aligning the aircraft for takeoff, the pilot applied full power and the airplane accelerated onto the step. When attempting to rotate, the pilot realized the flaps had not been reset to the takeoff position. The pilot then attempted to operate the manually actuated, hydraulically operated wing flaps, but the airplane impacted the far bank of the waterlane.
Aircraft Damage
The collision resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and left-wing strut.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form, the pilot suggested that using the airplane's checklist or rechecking the flap position could have prevented the accident.