KETCHIKAN, AK, USA
N96336
TAYLORCRAFT BCM-12D-85
THE PLT FELT A SUDDEN HARD JOLT WHILE IN CRUISE FLT. THE ACFT ASSUMED A NOSE LOW, LEFT WING DOWN ATTITUDE WHICH THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT BY USE OF POWER AND CONTROL INPUTS. THE ACFT WAS AT A LOW ALTITUDE DUE TO WEATHER. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE WATER IN A LEFT WING DOWN, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE SHORTLY AFTER THE LOSS OF CONTROL. AFTER THE ACFT WAS RECOVERED IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LEFT FLOAT HAD SEPARATED IN FLIGHT CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED PRE-EXISTING FATIGUE CRACKING OF TWO STEEL MEMBERS. THE LOW TENSILE STRENGTH AND MARGINAL QUALITY OF THE STEEL CONTRIBUTED TO THE EARLY FAILURE OF THE FITTNG.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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