Accident Overview
On April 12, 2026, at approximately 1423 mountain standard time, a Republic RC-3 amphibious airplane, registration N6518K, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Phoenix, Arizona. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Flight Sequence
According to the pilot, the flight departed from Hangar Haciendas Airport (AZ90) in Laveen, Arizona, with two passengers for a local flight. While cruising at an altitude of about 2,500 feet mean sea level, heading toward Camelback Mountain, the propeller rpm began to overspeed. The pilot attempted to reduce the propeller rpm, but the engine and propeller did not respond. Shortly thereafter, smoke was observed emanating from the left side of the engine cowling, and the engine lost all power.
Forced Landing
The pilot executed a gear-up forced landing on a road. The landing resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage keel and hull underside. During the landing sequence, the left wing struck a water backflow valve, damaging the leading edge of the left wing and the left wing sponson.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examination revealed that the engine's right-side exhaust tail pipe had separated from the exhaust manifold. Additionally, thermal damage and fractures were found on an aluminum panel, the air intake ducting for the carburetor, the fuel delivery line to the carburetor, and electrical wiring, including both magneto P-leads.
Aircraft Retention
The airplane was retained for further examination.