Icon A5 has hard water landing

An Icon demo pilot and passenger, whose names have not been released, were out for a demo flight when the hard landing occurred, cracking the hull and allowing the aircraft to take on water. No one was injured and both occupants were sitting on the wings of the partially submerged aircraft when they were picked up by a nearby boat. The two-seat aircraft was towed eight miles to a marina, then transported via trailer to the Icon flight school in Tampa. Icon is examining the aircraft at Tampa to determine the extent of the damage.

"This is the first situation like this we've experienced," Icon Founder and CEO Kirk Hawkins said in a note sent to Icon followers April 3. The aircraft touched down on the water with the wheels up, in the proper position. Hawkins said the mishap will be studied thoroughly, and "all initial information suggests pilot error."

The NTSB hadn't filed a report on the mishap.

The aircraft was registered to Icon and was less than a year old.

Icon has orders for 1,800 aircraft but has struggled as it has attempted to start high-rate production at its factory in Vacaville, California. Icon is building a composite fabrication facility in Mexico that is nearing completion. Get the latest on Icon in the April 2017 issue of AOPA Pilot.