PA-18/19 Super Cub
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 60; Flight Crew Total 8500; Flight Crew Type 20
Distraction; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Human Factors
Giving a demonstration ride in an amphibious PA-18. Pilot friend was in front seat and briefed on location and operation of controls; procedures; and hazards as almost all of these are hidden from my view in the rear seat. Winds were out of southwest at 10 kts.; and after liftoff front seat pilot was commenting about the rolling tendency of the aircraft with floats as we had discussed. Normally gear would be retracted at this time.Enroute to lake I was keeping an eye on boat traffic on the lake to determine where we could operate without disrupting the fisherman in the area. I found a location away from boats and into the wind and we descended to survey the area; not intending to land just yet. As we flew over the area at about 50 ft. above the water I saw a nice; clear patch of water ahead and decided last second to dip in for a touch and go. Having not performed my usual 'routine' before doing so; I missed that the landing gear had not been retracted and when we touched down the airplane came to displacement quickly enough to tip to the front. We sat in the aircraft for a moment hoping it would sit back down on the heel of the floats; but no such luck. When we leaned forward to disembark the CG (Center of Gravity) moved forward enough to tip further onto the nose and the aircraft began to take on water. Both occupants climbed out onto the float at this time and waited while a fisherman who had witnessed the landing approached. Within 2-3 minutes the airplane had capsized. In retrospect I allowed myself to get out of my normal routine by giving a ride from the rear seat (I would normally only instruct from the rear) and then made a hasty decision to go ahead and perform a touch and go without my typical setup at altitude confirming flaps; gear; etc.
PA-18 Amphibian Pilot reported failure to raise landing gear during water landing resulted in aircraft capsizing.