Electrocution Prevented As Aircraft Contacts 7200 Volt Powerline
Thank you for the role your inflatable floats played in my life. Truly, your floats contributed much to my physical welfare during a recent aviation mishap.
The accident occurred Saturday June 14, 1986. Visibility and weather conditions were good. Winds were between 12 to 15 knots. I was in a two place ultralight with one passenger. We were on our way to visit a water sports facility, ten miles from the take off point. After takeoff at 30 feet of altitude I noticed that my rate of climb seemed sluggish.
The rpm's were then in the 5600 range. At that moment I knew I was possibly in trouble but I was at a point of no return. Being low and slow my options were limited. I couldn't safely execute a right or left turn without stalling or endangering others. My decision was to continue straight ahead and hopefully land on a nearby four lane highway or possibly catch a significant wind gust to lift the aircraft to a higher altitude.
As I approached the highway I noticed high power lines directly in front of me. Since the aircraft had a negative rate of climb, maintaining flight was becoming increasingly more "difficult". At that point I decided to roll the aircraft to the right and land on the highway.
The nose of the right front float contacted the 7200 volt powerline. An immediate electrical power serge ruptured two bladders and caused numerous burns to the outside float fabric. Contact with the powerline caused the aircraft to roll 180 degrees to the right and enter an inverted nose down descent to the ground.
The first point of impact was the front fuselage which instantly crumbled. The second point of contact was the floats. Compressing and distorting in shape, the floats easily absorbed the impact.
My passenger and I survived the accident for two reasons:
Only the float that contacted the powerline sustained damage and required minor repair. My other float immediately returned to its original shape, undamaged, after impact.
My aircraft unfortunately is in need of major repair.
I commend your company and engineering staff for the imagination and creative design incorporated in possibly the world's best and safest float system. Thanks Full Lotus.
Mike Simmons
Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Thank you for the role your inflatable floats played in my life. Truly, your floats contributed much to my physical welfare during a recent aviation mishap.
The accident occurred Saturday June 14, 1986. Visibility and weather conditions were good. Winds were between 12 to 15 knots. I was in a two place ultralight with one passenger. We were on our way to visit a water sports facility, ten miles from the take off point. After takeoff at 30 feet of altitude I noticed that my rate of climb seemed sluggish.
The rpm's were then in the 5600 range. At that moment I knew I was possibly in trouble but I was at a point of no return. Being low and slow my options were limited. I couldn't safely execute a right or left turn without stalling or endangering others. My decision was to continue straight ahead and hopefully land on a nearby four lane highway or possibly catch a significant wind gust to lift the aircraft to a higher altitude.
As I approached the highway I noticed high power lines directly in front of me. Since the aircraft had a negative rate of climb, maintaining flight was becoming increasingly more "difficult". At that point I decided to roll the aircraft to the right and land on the highway.
The nose of the right front float contacted the 7200 volt powerline. An immediate electrical power serge ruptured two bladders and caused numerous burns to the outside float fabric. Contact with the powerline caused the aircraft to roll 180 degrees to the right and enter an inverted nose down descent to the ground.
The first point of impact was the front fuselage which instantly crumbled. The second point of contact was the floats. Compressing and distorting in shape, the floats easily absorbed the impact.
My passenger and I survived the accident for two reasons:
- Full Lotus floats are manufactured with a non-conductible abrasion resistant fabric. This substantially reduced the possibility of electrocution.
- The tremendous energy absorption qualities of the inflatable float system significantly reduced the total impact forces of the vertical descent.
Only the float that contacted the powerline sustained damage and required minor repair. My other float immediately returned to its original shape, undamaged, after impact.
My aircraft unfortunately is in need of major repair.
I commend your company and engineering staff for the imagination and creative design incorporated in possibly the world's best and safest float system. Thanks Full Lotus.
Mike Simmons
Fort Walton Beach, Florida
