Beaver DHC-2
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 25; Flight Crew Total 9650; Flight Crew Type 425
Situational Awareness
Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown; Ground Excursion Runway; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Weather; Human Factors; Airport
I was returning guests/fishermen from a fishing location. The weather along the route was VFR with occasional rain (which reduced visibility to 3-4 miles). Approaching my destination I listened to the current ZZZ ATIS which was reporting wind from the north at 7 mph; few clouds at 3;500 feet; BKN at 5;500 feet and visibility greater than 10 miles with light rain. Considering the wind direction I decided to land to the north (on the river). During my approach I heard the controller reporting (to another landing traffic) of wind from the northwest. I saw the rain in the vicinity of my destination but didn't suspect it to be different from what I had encountered along my route of flight.Just before touching down I encountered what was probably a micro-burst with a wind shift and a torrential rain that hindered forward visibility through the windshield. I concentrated on my landing looking at the water through the side window and not being aware of the wind direction shift; to approximately 20 kts tailwind. Upon touching down and still 'on the step' I realized the situation and that I had no options left but to aim toward the furthest point of the river and shut off the engine. I hit the slope of the river bank with minimal force (though the ELT went off). There were no injuries and my 4 passengers immediately left the aircraft. There was no damage to the aircraft other than a small crack in the front of the right float.My main concern is that there is not much for me to learn from this event other than treating every landing as a new and unfamiliar location (and not relying solely on reports; including ATC).
A DHC2 floatplane pilot reports landing on a river and entering a microburst just before touch down. A tailwind results in a high touch down speed and insufficient time to stop before reaching the shore. Damage is minimal but contact with the shore activates the ELT.