Accident Champion 7EC N4365C, Monday 13 July 1987

You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.

Date:	Monday 13 July 1987
Time:	17:30 LT
Type:	Champion 7EC
Owner/operator:	Torp Aero Service, Inc.
Registration:	N4365C
MSN:	7EC-388
Year of manufacture:	1956
Total airframe hrs:	3111 hours
Engine model:	Continental C-90-12F
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Lake Monroe, IN - United States of America
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	(071)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE FLOAT EQUIPPED ACFT TOOK OFF FROM LAKE MONROE WITH 2 RATED PLTS ON BOARD. THE PLT-IN-COMMAND (PIC) STATED THAT THE TAKEOFF DISTANCE MAY HAVE BEEN ABOUT 20% LONGER THAN NORMAL. HE SAID THAT AFTER CLIMBING ABOUT 200 TO 250 FT, THE COPLT BEGAN A RGT TURN, THEN 'WAS NOT ABLE TO GET WING UP & BY THE TIME I REALIZED WE HAD A PROBLEM, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME OR ALTITUDE TO TRY TO DO ANYTHING.' RPRTDLY, THE ACFT SETTLED & CONTACTED THE WATER WITH ITS RGT WING, THEN SANK AFTER IT CRASHED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT HAD A HISTORY OF LEAKING FLOATS. THREE DAYS BFR THE FLT, THE ACFT WAS FND PARTIALLY SUNK WHILE MOORED AT A BUOY. PRIOR TO THE FLT, ONLY THE 2 FRONT COMPARTMENTS OF EACH FLOAT WERE PUMPEDOUT. WT & BALANCE INFO SHOWED THAT WITHOUT ANY WATER IN THE FLOATS, THE ACFT WOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO ITS MAX GROSS WT LIMIT & THE CG WOULD HAVE BEEN NEAR THE AFT LIMIT.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: