Pilot of M7 float plane capsizes 6 person rowing shell while taxiing for takeoff.

Attributes
ACN	709277
Time
Date	200609
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 220
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : bur.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-7
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Experience	flight time total : 1300
ASRS Report	709277
Events
Anomaly	ground encounters other
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Environmental Factor

Narrative:

Plane based on ZZZ lake. At east end of lake; received SVFR clearance to depart east. I step-taxied to the west end of the lake for departure. I had slowed to idle taxi in preparation for left 180 degree turn into the water takeoff lane; but I was watching a small boat with fishermen positioned in the middle of the takeoff lane to my left. As I prepared to turn left into the takeoff lane; my right float ran over a 6-PERSON rowing shell; overturning it and dumping 6 persons in the water. They were also in the takeoff lane to the right at the 1 O'clock position. I never saw them until after we collided. Their shell rides low in the water and was in some shadows. I used my aircraft to tow them to shore where they could get warm and dry. Fortunately; no one was injured and the rowing shell was very slightly damaged. No damage to my float plane.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF M7 FLOAT PLANE CAPSIZES 6 PERSON ROWING SHELL WHILE TAXIING FOR TKOF.

Narrative: PLANE BASED ON ZZZ LAKE. AT EAST END OF LAKE; RECEIVED SVFR CLRNC TO DEPART E. I STEP-TAXIED TO THE W END OF THE LAKE FOR DEP. I HAD SLOWED TO IDLE TAXI IN PREPARATION FOR L 180 DEG TURN INTO THE WATER TKOF LANE; BUT I WAS WATCHING A SMALL BOAT WITH FISHERMEN POSITIONED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TKOF LANE TO MY L. AS I PREPARED TO TURN L INTO THE TKOF LANE; MY R FLOAT RAN OVER A 6-PERSON ROWING SHELL; OVERTURNING IT AND DUMPING 6 PERSONS IN THE WATER. THEY WERE ALSO IN THE TKOF LANE TO THE R AT THE 1 O'CLOCK POS. I NEVER SAW THEM UNTIL AFTER WE COLLIDED. THEIR SHELL RIDES LOW IN THE WATER AND WAS IN SOME SHADOWS. I USED MY ACFT TO TOW THEM TO SHORE WHERE THEY COULD GET WARM AND DRY. FORTUNATELY; NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THE ROWING SHELL WAS VERY SLIGHTLY DAMAGED. NO DAMAGE TO MY FLOAT PLANE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.