ON APRIL 18, 2023, AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30 A.M., OPERATOR AND PASSENGER WERE TRAVELING NORTHWEST ON THE NUESE RIVER TOWARDS NEW BERN.

OPERATOR RECALLS HEARING A LOUD AND DISTINCT POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE MOTOR OF THE VESSEL.  HE TURNED AROUND AND OBSERVED THE MOTOR MOVING IN A SPORADIC MANNER.  HE SLOWED DOWN THE VESSEL TO A COMPLETE STOP AND SHUT THE MOTOR OFF. 
THE VESSEL BEGAN TAKING ON WATER. OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO RADIO FOR HELP AND PROVIDE THEIR EXACT COORDINATES. THE VESSEL BEGAN TO SINK FORCING BOTH MEN TO ENTER INTO THE WATER. THEY WERE BOTH WEARING THEIR PFD AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE VESSEL BECAME PARTIALLY SUBMERGED AND FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. THEY WERE ABLE TO CLIMB ON THE NON-SUBMERGED PORTION OF THE VESSEL AND SIT AND WAIT FOR HELP TO ARRIVE.  NEW BERN FIRE AND RESCUE WERE FIRST ON THE SCENE.  INDIVIDUALS WERE RESCUED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT AND TRANSPORTED TO THE LAWSONS CREEK BOATING ACCESS AREA.  OFFICER 1 GATHERED INFORMATION AND BOTH MEN WERE EVALUATED FOR ANY INJURIES AND PICKED UP FROM THE RAMP BY FAMILY MEMBERS.  THE VESSEL REMAINED TIED OFF TO A BUOY IN THE NUESE RIVER UNTIL A TOW CREW WAS ABLE TO TOW IT.  OFFICER 2 AND OFFICER 3 DOCUMENTED THE SCENE AND TOOK PICTURES. THE VESSEL WAS TOWED THE FOLLOWING DAY BY BOAT US AND TRANSPORTED TO A NEARBY STORAGE LOT.  WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT WIND.

THIS INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THE OUTBOARD MOTOR BECOMING UNATTACHED TO THE TRANSOM. THE BOLTS SECURING THE MOTOR TO THE TRANSOM HAD RIPPED THROUGH AND WERE ONLY ATTACHED BY ONE BOLT.  WATER BEGAN SEEPING THROUGH THE TRANSOM CAUSING IT TO BEGIN TO SINK. THE VESSEL WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED AND DAMAGES ESTIMATED AROUND $10,400.00.

THE VESSSEL WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

*******END OF REPORT*******
NEUSE RIVER
JAMES CITY                    