Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 180; Flight Crew Total 5500; Flight Crew Type 150
Distraction; Fatigue; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
This is a twin engine experimental airplane that was designed to fly low and slow to take videos and photos. I was flying with a friend who is also a pilot. I was the pilot in command and pilot flying during the event. We were flying a cross country with a fuel stop. The flight was a total of 6 hours and the event happen at the last 3 minutes of the flight. As we were approaching our destination we spotted a shark in the water and we started a descent from 300 feet to about 30 to 50 feet. The shark was just stationary and we started to circle it. I did 2 turns around the shark with no issues and as I came around on the last turn; I saw something going by that took my attention away from the shark and brought the airplane wings to level. I immediately noticed my sink rate was very high and added full power and started to pitch up. The sink rate continued until I had contact with the water. Right before touching the water the sink rate was very close to zero (0). The airplane skipped on the water and flew away with a lot of vibration. I looked at my instrumentation and noticed my right engine RPM was much higher (red arc) than the left which seemed normal to the power lever position. I started to bring the right engine to idle and the airplane vibration decreased significantly. I quickly assessed the situation and confirmed that all flight controls were working and the airplane was flying well on 1 engine. My friend who was in the back was looking around the airplane while all this happened and said that everything looked okay in the plane other than the right wheel which was missing. I continued climbing until 700 feet while flying toward the airport. I made a radio call stating my position and my situation 'lost my right engine and wheel'. Once on final the airplane flew normal with both power reduced. The winds were favoring Runway 12. They were coming from probably 180 at 10 knots (what I assumed from looking at the windsock). With the left engine running; right cross wind and right wheel missing it was very difficult to keep the airplane on the downwind wheel as the airspeed got slower. As soon as the right landing gear leg touched on the ground the airplane started to turn to the right toward the gravel/grass. The airplane did a 360 ground loop coming to a stop about 10 feet on the right side of the runway. Nobody was hurt and there were no damage other than aircraft damage. Police came within 5 minutes of landing and he wrote a report in which he said it was going to be submitted to the FAA for follow up. Looking at topics below and talking about them separately. How the problem arose: Low altitude flying on a windy day. Pilot perceived high sink rate. Downwind turn; flying low; distraction with shark; possible windshear; possibly flew through my own wingtip vortices; possible downdraft. Full power and pitched up. During the first 2 turns I noticed the airplane was loosing a lot of performance while turning downwind. I compensated by flying faster which was my decision and action. This was a 6 hour flight in the sun (open cockpit). Although there were 2 pilots and we took turns flying; I was tired at the end of 6 hours and should have not gone to lower altitude.
Experimental light twin pilot reports water contact while circling at low altitude to view sea life. The right propeller is damaged and the right wheel is missing. Aircraft is flown to a nearby airport and landed safely with minimal additional damage.