A PA18 pilot reported striking a wingtip during a float takeoff as a gust of wind hit the aircraft. ...

Narrative:

I was taking off on the river with my float equipped PA-18 while doing my riverboat demo. A gust of wind picked me off the water before it was ready to fly; then the right-hand wing dropped. While correcting for the wing; the right-hand float hit the water followed shortly by the left-hand float. I kept full power; got it straightened out; and lifted off the water. I then finished my take off and landing demonstration. Upon landing for the demo I was notified by the boat that I may have hit my wing. I got out to look at the plane. While standing on the float I noticed what appeared to be a small tear on the bottom of the left-hand wing. I flew back to my float pond base; a half mile away. Upon tying the aircraft up; I realized the fabric was ripped more than I could see standing on float before I flew it. There was no structural damage to the ribs or wing tip bow; just a larger rip on the bottom as well as one on the top that was not visible from the float. As I am an a&P [with] inspection authority I took my plane out of the pond and back to my hangar. I proceeded to repair the fabric damage. I believe that the gust of wind was due to a large thunderhead that was moving into the area. We have had several days for the last week and the wind sneaks up quickly and gusts strongly. I should have assessed the wing tip better before my flight back to the float pond base and acquired a ferry permit for the flight back to the float pond.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA18 Pilot reported striking a wingtip during a float takeoff as a gust of wind hit the aircraft. Torn fabric was seen on the lower wing during a cursory inspection but after landing at the home base; tears on both upper and lower surfaces were discovered.

Narrative: I was taking off on the river with my float equipped PA-18 while doing my riverboat demo. A gust of wind picked me off the water before it was ready to fly; then the right-hand wing dropped. While correcting for the wing; the right-hand float hit the water followed shortly by the left-hand float. I kept full power; got it straightened out; and lifted off the water. I then finished my take off and landing demonstration. Upon landing for the demo I was notified by the boat that I may have hit my wing. I got out to look at the plane. While standing on the float I noticed what appeared to be a small tear on the bottom of the left-hand wing. I flew back to my float pond base; a half mile away. Upon tying the aircraft up; I realized the fabric was ripped more than I could see standing on float before I flew it. There was no structural damage to the ribs or wing tip bow; just a larger rip on the bottom as well as one on the top that was not visible from the float. As I am an A&P [with] Inspection Authority I took my plane out of the pond and back to my hangar. I proceeded to repair the fabric damage. I believe that the gust of wind was due to a large thunderhead that was moving into the area. We have had several days for the last week and the wind sneaks up quickly and gusts strongly. I should have assessed the wing tip better before my flight back to the float pond base and acquired a ferry permit for the flight back to the float pond.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	892143
Time
Date	201006
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-18/19 Super Cub
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Climb Takeoff
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial Maintenance Airframe Maintenance Powerplant Maintenance Inspection Authority
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30 Flight Crew Total 2020 Flight Crew Type 1800
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Maintenance Deviation - Procedural FAR Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control

A PA18 pilot reported striking a wingtip during a float takeoff as a gust of wind hit the aircraft. Torn fabric was seen on the lower wing during a cursory inspection but after landing at the home base; tears on both upper and lower surfaces were discovered.