What happened
During an attempt to depart from a water-based location, the pilot of a seaplane encountered surface winds that exceeded the initial forecasts. After an initial landing into an easterly wind, the pilot determined that the conditions were too difficult to taxi to the intended beaching area. Consequently, the decision was made to perform a takeoff into the wind.
As the aircraft accelerated, the pilot noted that the water surface was rough and the takeoff run felt unstable. Upon reaching rotation speed, the left float became detached from the aircraft. This loss of structural integrity caused the airplane to nose into the water. The pilot and the passengers were successfully rescued by a nearby vessel, but the aircraft subsequently submerged in approximately 50 feet of water.
Due to severe weather and high winds, the wreckage could not be retrieved for 52 days. Following this period, the components remained exposed to the elements for another 13 days before a salvage operation could begin.
Findings
An investigation into the incident revealed that the aircraft's landing gear components were heavily impacted by saltwater corrosion, which made a detailed metallurgical analysis impossible. However, the investigation found no evidence of any mechanical failure or malfunction existing prior to the accident.