Originally Posted by
PiperCameron
For my own armchair education (not being a float pilot - not yet, anyways) having just experienced "a loud bang and observed damage to the right float which was partially detached" .. Wouldn't you want to light the right float (as I'm assuming he did) but keep the power UP to get clear of the water ASAP? Surely there's a speed at which it's too dangerous not to continue??
I’ll be clear on this. A “flying wire” broke and was witnessed “hanging down” by the pilot. The flying wires affect the lateral stability of the floats. It was not a broken bracket at that point.
You are correct in saying that getting the weight off float(s) would be a priority, however due to the fact that he choose to use no flap for the departure, he was not at flying speed and given that it was rough, it was difficult to achieve takeoff speed. A large’ish wave then launched him up and he wasn’t at flying speed and thus stalled.