Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Sea
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 156; Flight Crew Total 8967; Flight Crew Type 466
Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; General Maintenance Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
I was assigned to drop two passengers off at the beach. The bay is open to the ocean swell and ship wakes from the ship channel. I surveyed the landing area three times and landed without incident. While taxiing to the beach; the waves started to build. I turned back from the beach and started to taxi out toward open water. While taxiing in displacement mode; a wave broke over the floats. I immediately surveyed all engine indications and noted no discrepancies. I then tried to taxi to other beach locations to deplane the passengers. The water was too rough at this time and I was unable to get to the beach. I then flew to a marina and dropped the passengers off there. After the engine was shut down at the dock; I noted all three blades of the propeller were bent. The aircraft was grounded. I have been flying float planes for 27 years. I was unaware that a wave could reach up high enough to cause damage to the prop. I believe the main difference between regular rough water and this incident was the fact that the wave actually broke just ahead of the aircraft. This caused the floats to submarine through the wave; instead of merely riding up and over.
DHC2 pilot reports bent propeller blades due to contact with a breaking wave while attempting to drop passengers on a beach.