EDMONDS, WA, USA
N4431U
HELIO H-391B
THE PILOT INCREASED POWER TO INITIATE A CLIMB AND THE ENGINE PARTIALLY LOST POWER. HE DITCHED THE ACFT IN PUGET SOUND WHEN HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH AN AIRPORT OR THE SHORE FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE ACFT NOSED OVER ON TOUCHDOWN IN THE WATER. AN EXAM OF THE ENGINE AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THE NO 4 EXHAUST VALVE WAS SEIZED IN THE OPEN POSITION.
THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHEN AN EXHAUST VALVE SEIZED IN THE OPEN POSITION AND THE WATER WHERE THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO LAND, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACFT NOSE OVER ON TOUCHDOWN.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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