There may not be anything quite as adventurous as seaplane flying. A seaplane makes you master of both sea and sky. Like seagulls or pelicans, when you fly a seaplane, you can both soar above the water and float on its surface. While this type of flying represents the ultimate in aviation freedom, which allows pilots to land in many remote and unique destinations, it also comes with unique risks and challenges that are not present in land-only operations.
According to the Seaplane Pilots Association (SPA) and the AOPA’s Air Safety Institute (ASI) Seaplane Accident Analysis Report 2008–2022, the percentage of seaplane accidents resulting in fatalities was slightly higher than that of their land-only counterparts. The report indicated the dominant cause of seaplane accidents was abnormal runway contact. Comparing this study to the most recent Richard G. McSpadden Report from 2022, it’s possible to draw a few important comparisons between flying land planes and seaplanes.
According to the Seaplane Accident Analysis Report, aircraft control issues account for 40% of seaplane accidents, followed by accidents categorized as decision-making. While aircraft class doesn’t seem to affect predominant accident causes, the addition of operations that include amphibious landing gear operations does increase accidents caused by gear position versus landing surface mismatch. In this article, I’ll aim to break down these categories, see how they interrelate, and explore best practices to keep ourselves and our passengers safe.
Based on data from the aforementioned reports, here’s what I noted as the top causes of seaplane accidents by phase of flight.
- With takeoff accidents, loss of directional control during the takeoff roll was the most common cause, but the category also includes pitch and roll excursions after lift-off. Departure stalls accounted for nearly one-third of the fatal accidents.
- During the maneuvering phase of flight, the most common cause was an unintentional stall at an altitude too low to allow for recovery. Nearly 60% of all maneuvering accidents and almost half of all accidents during descent and approach were fatal.
- Inadvertent stalls were implicated in over a third of descent and approach accidents.
This data indicates to me how important decision-making, training, and correct landing gear position selection are to safe seaplane operations.
Decision Making — Consistently Using ADM Tools
As previously mentioned, many of the accidents fall into the category of decision-making. Even events such as inadvertent stalls involve a series of decisions that lead to the moment the wing stops producing lift. Every flight we take, and even the ones we do not, involves a multitude of decisions. Having a standard aeronautical decision making, or ADM, process is critical when challenging and high-stress situations occur.
The FAA provides a suite of helpful decision-making tools, including the PAVE and IMSAFE checklists. As pilots, we have all been trained and tested on these tools, but individual results will, of course, vary. The key for all of us is to implement them consistently into our flying.
In addition to decision-making tools, having a strong network of fellow aviators is also important to assist you if challenging conditions or decisions are present before a flight. Though the decision is ultimately yours, getting perspectives from others that you trust can help you make the decision. This tool is also important after a flight. As hard as we try, none of us has flown the perfect flight. Sometimes the issues are small, other times they are added to our list of “most uncomfortable moments as a pilot.” A post-flight debrief with a trusted advisor can go a long way toward understanding the decision-making process that was used and how it may be improved in the future.
Training — Provider and Aircraft; Currency, Proficiency, and Class
Regular training that improves and expands our pilot skillset can lower the risk of aircraft control issues. Training should be a standard and welcome event in our aviation journey. When evaluating training and what is right for you, look at the three Rs of recurrent training. What is required, what is relevant, and how recently was it performed?
The FAA and certain insurance companies may require recurrent training. In some cases, the training has explicit minimum requirements. Other times, you and your flight instructor can customize the training.
When evaluating your recurrent training needs, be sure to look at both relevance and recency. A flight review or yearly recurrent training in your Beechcraft Baron or a Boeing 737 may meet the requirements evaluated above, but is it relevant to the operation being conducted? Specifically looking at seaplanes, when was the last time you went out with a flight instructor to refine your water takeoffs and landings?
When looking for an instructor to hone your skills, seek someone who has operational-specific knowledge, the ability to challenge you, and who maintains a positive attitude. In addition to helping a pilot strive for safety, recurrent training should also challenge them to grow and evaluate their current practices for areas of improvement.
Gear Position — Amphibious Operations and Intended Landing Surface
One of the areas identified earlier, unique to seaplane accidents, was improper gear position. In an amphibious seaplane, the proper landing gear position is dependent on the intended landing surface: water or land. The GUMPS (Gas, Undercarriage, Mixture, Props, Switches/Seatbelts) flow that many of us develop in retractable gear land planes can have a negative transfer when transitioning to or flying amphibians. There is also a challenge for those of us who often fly both retractable gear land planes and amphibious aircraft. In these cases, pilots need to have procedures that allow them to configure the aircraft they are in properly and trap errors before they become an incident or accident.
Consistent procedures, regardless of aircraft, are key to assuring safety as we switch between aircraft. There is a large difference between the calls “gear is down and green for landing” and “we are landing on a runway; the gear is down and green for a runway landing.”
If a pilot changes callouts as they switch between, say, a Bonanza and an amphibious Caravan, they miss an opportunity to trap potential errors and mitigate the risk of switching between two aircraft with different complexities. I advocate the latter of the previous verbiage, said out loud, regardless of whether the aircraft is capable of landing on water. Consistent procedures are one way we can mitigate the risk of switching aircraft.
The first step in assuring the aircraft is properly configured for the intended landing surface is to acknowledge to yourself and your crew (passengers and crew will be used interchangeably) where you will be landing. “There is a lake in front of us, landing gear will be up for a water landing.” With that sentence, said out loud, you have committed to your mind as well as your crew where the aircraft will land and the desired gear state. Any deviation from this configuration or landing area is reason to take a moment and question your actions.
As part of the GUMPS check run on each leg of the traffic pattern, utilize the same verbiage that has already been used: “Gear is up and blue for a water landing.” Also, look at the landing area, the gear indicators (lights and floats), and tacitly verify the gear handle position. I like to do one last glance at the gear lights on short final.
Use “positive rate, gear up” on every aircraft, every time. Although a gear-up runway landing will hit the pocketbook and the ego, a gear-down water landing can be deadly. The natural state for the amphibian is to have the gear tucked in the up position. After a land takeoff, the amphibious pilot’s first action, after assuring a positive rate of climb, is to retract the gear and assure it is up. Saying “positive rate, gear up,” along with the techniques to confirm and select proper gear position, can eliminate accidents related to amphibious gear position.
There may be no one better acquainted with the dangers of improper gear position than Russ Jeter. He shares the excruciating consequences of his own personal tragedy and the lessons we can learn from it in a video made in conjunction with Air Safety Institute. Click below to see this special presentation and learn more about the importance of confirming and selecting proper gear position during every flight.
The Seaplane Operating Environment and CRM
One of the more challenging and rewarding aspects of seaplane flying is evaluating the landing area and the associated planning for our landings. Unlike a land airport, a water landing area has not been created and protected for us. The water landing environment is ever-changing with variables like obstacles, other traffic on the water, and weather conditions — adding to the complexity and importance of properly managing resources
When overflying an intended water destination, risks from all of the accident areas we identified are present. Executing a water landing requires a strong and standard decision-making process. While that evaluation and decision-making process is in progress, basic airmanship is critical. You should manage proper aircraft configuration, angle of attack, airspeed, and your position over the ground and in relation to other traffic. Try using the “Night Owl” checklist to help with this evaluation.
NTOWL
Noise
Terrain/Towers
Obstacles in the water (boat wake is very dangerous for seaplanes)
Wind/Water for the type of landing (glassy, rough, etc.)
Landing lane selection
When evaluating an area for water landing, seaplane pilots should develop a standard practice that works for them and their aircraft. Don’t forget to involve others who are on the plane, as appropriate. Brief the other sets of eyes on what you will be looking for and how to let you know if they see something concerning.
A Smooth Landing
Seaplane flying is rewarding and one of the ultimate freedoms available to aviators. However, flying an amphibious aircraft presents unique challenges and an added level of complexity when compared to its land-bound brethren. Pilots should be aware of the challenges in this environment and take the necessary steps to refine their skills, use consistent decision-making procedures, and seek out aircraft-specific training. These risk-reduction efforts will help keep you and your passengers safe as you explore the land, air, and sea!
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