N4444Z
Registered owner: RUSTAIR INC, AK (owner ≠ operator)
Operators of this aircraft
Who operated this tail, and how firmly we know it.
| Operator | Role | Period | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| RUSTS FLYING SERVICE INC (ERHA) | Certificate holder | — | Matched by certificate designator |
| RUSTS FLYING SERVICE INC (ERHA) | Operator | 2024-08-02 – 2024-08-02 | Operator named in NTSB report |
| Rust's Flying Service Inc. | Operator | 2024-08-02 – 2024-08-02 | Operator named in NTSB report |
Accident & incident history
Maintenance disclosures
PILOT REPORTED: NORMAL: WEIGHT AND BALANCE CHECK, PREFLIGHT, FUELING (35 FRNT 35 CTR 05 REAR) PAX LOADING/BRIEFING, TAXI FOR SE DEPART, AND RUN UP. PREFLIGHT CHECKLIST: FUEL SELECTOR CTR TANK, FLAPS AND TRIM SET TO TAKEOFF, WATER RUDDERS RETRACTED, CARB HEAT 1/2 SELECTED CLEARED BY TOWER FOR SE WITH E OPTION DEPARTURE NORMAL TO RUN, AIRBORNE PRIOR TO THE ISLAND, POWER AND RPM REDUCED TO CLIMB AND ESTABLISH 150/MIN. INTO LAKE SPENARD AT 200 FT ALT, ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY DISTINCT COUGH/CHUG, LOSS OF POWER FOLLOWED. STRAIGHT AHEAD IS LAKE FRONT HOTEL. I DESCENDED LEFT (PULLED THE MIXTURE) AND HEADED FOR THE NORTH SHORE OF LAKE SPENARD AND THOUGHT I WOULD BE ABLE TO LAND AND STOP IN THE RAPIDLY DISAPPEARING WATER. HOWEVER, THE REALITY OF A STRONG 1/4 TAILWIND QUICKLY BECAME APPARENT AND I PUSHED THE NOSE FOR A STEEPER DECENT (I NEEDED TO GET ONTO THE WATER ASAP) AND WHAT I KNEW WOULD BE A HARD WATER LANDING. I HIT AND BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR BUT THIS DISSIPATED MUCH SPEED AND ENERGY. I LANDED AGAIN 50 FT FROM THE SHORE AND AIMED FOR THE ONLY SLIP ON THE NORTH SIDE THAT WAS CURRENTLY UNOCCUPIED. WE RAN UP ON THE DOCK AT APPROX 25 MPH, THE LEFT FLOAT RAN OVER A PARTLY SUBMERGED CONCRETE TIE DOWN, THE LEFT WING TIP HIT A BIRCH TREE; THESE TWO ACTIONS SPUN THE AIRPLANE 90 DEG LEFT. NOW FULLY OUT OF THE WATER WE SKIDDED SIDEWAYS FOR 5 FT. THIS ACTION BENT THE SPREADER BARS AND ROLLED THE RIGHT FLOAT UNDER. WHEN WE STOPPED SKIDDING, I PULLED THE MAIN FUEL CUTOFF LEVER AND ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY INJURIES. DOORS WERE OPENED BY CONCERNED BYSTANDERS AND EGRESS BEGAN. I SPOKE ON THE RADIO WITH LHD TOWER.
ALL 4 LOWER FLOAT TIE-ROD (FLYING WIRES) WIRE PULLS SHOW SIGNS OF CORROSION AND ATTACHMENT HOLE ELONGATION.
THREE MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND SLIGHT OIL ON THE WINDSHIELD IN HIS FLOAT EQUIPED ACFT. RETURNED TO THE WATER TAKEOFF AREA UNDER ITS OWN POWER. VISUALLY DETERMINED THAT 6 OF THE 10 CYLINDER BASE STUD ATTACHMENTS FOR CYLINDER NR 1 HAD FAILED.
LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER ATTACH FITTING ON STABILIZER SPAR FOUND CRACKED. INTERGRANULAR CORROSION EVIDENT ON THE COMPLETE LENGTH OF CRACK. PART IS HIGHLY LOADED AND SUBJECT TO STRESS CORROSION. SUBMITTER STATED THIS FITTING SHOULD BE EXAMINED CAREFULLY DURING THE REPETITIVE INSPECTIONS REQUIRED BY AD 92-24-02. THESE FITTINGS ARE REMOVED FOR THE INSPECTION OF SPAR.