LAKE MONROE, IN, USA
N4365C
CHAMPION 7EC
THE FLOAT EQUIPPED ACFT TOOK OFF FROM LAKE MONROE WITH 2 RATED PLTS ON BOARD. THE PLT-IN-COMMAND (PIC) STATED THAT THE TAKEOFF DISTANCE MAY HAVE BEEN ABOUT 20% LONGER THAN NORMAL. HE SAID THAT AFTER CLIMBING ABOUT 200 TO 250 FT, THE COPLT BEGAN A RGT TURN, THEN 'WAS NOT ABLE TO GET WING UP & BY THE TIME I REALIZED WE HAD A PROBLEM, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME OR ALTITUDE TO TRY TO DO ANYTHING.' RPRTDLY, THE ACFT SETTLED & CONTACTED THE WATER WITH ITS RGT WING, THEN SANK AFTER IT CRASHED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT HAD A HISTORY OF LEAKING FLOATS. THREE DAYS BFR THE FLT, THE ACFT WAS FND PARTIALLY SUNK WHILE MOORED AT A BUOY. PRIOR TO THE FLT, ONLY THE 2 FRONT COMPARTMENTS OF EACH FLOAT WERE PUMPEDOUT. WT & BALANCE INFO SHOWED THAT WITHOUT ANY WATER IN THE FLOATS, THE ACFT WOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO ITS MAX GROSS WT LIMIT & THE CG WOULD HAVE BEEN NEAR THE AFT LIMIT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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