Accident Overview
On June 3, 2020, at approximately 1630 central daylight time, an ICON A5 amphibian airplane, registration N838BA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sky Harbor Airport (DYT) in Duluth, Minnesota. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot, he taxied the airplane downwind on the water before takeoff. After turning into the wind, he applied full power. About five seconds later, he heard a "loud bang." He immediately shut down the engine, exited the cockpit, and observed that all three propeller blades were missing. The airplane began to sink, prompting the pilot and passenger to don life jackets and evacuate.
Damage Assessment
The accident resulted in substantial damage to the airplane's fuselage, including holes in the hull. The extent of the damage rendered the aircraft temporarily inoperable.
Pilot's Recollection
Several days after the accident, the pilot recalled that before departure, he and his passenger had washed the airplane. During the wash, he had placed a portable speaker on top of the airplane to play music. He did not recall removing the speaker before departure. The pilot stated that "the speaker must have rolled over the engine compartment and into the propellers." He further noted in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board Investigator-in-Charge that he had not since located the speaker.
Investigation Notes
The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the accident. The probable cause was not stated in the available source material.