Accident Details
On July 29, 2018, at 1205 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built SeaRey amphibious airplane, registration N221EZ, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees and then water while attempting to land on the Connecticut River near Haverhill, New Hampshire. The private pilot and registered owner, along with a passenger, were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight, having originated from the river about 1200.
Pilot and Passenger Accounts
The pilot reported that he had completed two successful water landings on the river and was preparing for a third landing up-river to join a friend. After takeoff, he executed a right 180° turn, followed by a left "teardrop" turn over a flat cornfield to achieve a 45° re-entry to the river at an altitude of 50 ft above ground level. As the airplane crossed the shoreline, the pilot attempted a left turn to align with the river, but the control stick would not move past the vertical position. The airplane would not turn and was approaching 60-ft-tall trees on the opposite side of the river. Despite adding power, the airplane could not outclimb the trees and struck them at a speed of about 70 knots. The airplane then descended in a nose-down, left-wing-low attitude into the river. The pilot noted that he would normally climb above surrounding terrain before landing but did not give himself an "out" during this flight.
The passenger stated that a left turn was made over the corn field at "tree top height," and as the pilot attempted another left turn to line up with the winding river, trees became visible ahead. The passenger shouted, "pull up, pull up!" The pilot was struggling with the control stick and could not pull up to clear the trees. The airplane clipped the treetops and impacted the river in a left nose-down attitude.
The airplane came to rest upright and partially submerged in shallow water. The river was about 100 ft wide and lined with trees on both sides.
Postaccident Examination
Examination of the airplane revealed that both wings had been removed during recovery, but the flight controls moved freely when manually manipulated. The pilot speculated that an ADS-B component, attached to the control panel with a suction cup, might have come loose and jammed the flight control assembly. He demonstrated how this could occur, but neither he nor the passenger could confirm the event. Examination of the ADS-B component showed no physical damage.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land and also held a sport pilot certificate. However, a review of his logbook by a Federal Aviation Administration operations inspector indicated that he was not endorsed for Light Sport single-engine sea airplanes. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on December 20, 2017. He reported a total of 760 flight hours, of which 498 were in the accident airplane.
Weather Conditions
At 1100, weather at a nearby station (LCI) was reported as wind from 290° at 6 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 ft, temperature 81°F, dew point 75°F, and an altimeter setting of 30.04 inches of mercury.