Accident Overview
On an unspecified date, a twin-engine seaplane departed Merrill Field at 1110 local time carrying 220 gallons of fuel. Approximately two hours later, while flying at an altitude of 6,500 feet about 10 miles offshore, both engines lost power. The crew was unable to restart the engines and performed a ditching in 12- to 15-foot waves with a surface wind of 40 knots. During the ditching, the right float was torn off and both engine mounts broke. The aircraft sank at 1745 and was not recovered.
Inspection and Fuel Quality
An annual inspection had been completed four days prior to the accident. Investigators checked the fueling facilities and found no evidence of water or other contaminants.
Official Probable Cause
The investigation determined two occurrences with separate findings. For the first occurrence, loss of engine power during normal cruise, the reason for the power loss was undetermined. For the second occurrence, the ditching, contributing factors included rough water conditions, high wind, and unfavorable wind.