# Accident 20040605010109A: Damico Michael J KITFOX SERIES 7, Caldwell, ID, June 5, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 5, 2004, 10:30 local time
- Place: Caldwell, ID
- Airport: Caldwell Industrial Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.5891° N, 116.9099° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5891&lon=-116.9099&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1852N, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1852N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Damico Michael J KITFOX SERIES 7 (registry code 05614UI, https://openairdocs.org/model/damico-michael-j-kitfox-series-7) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax SEE BOMBADIER (registry code 55555, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (OpenAirDocs)
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 440 total, 29 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA04LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA103) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040605010109A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THIS KITFOX WAS BUILT BY THE OWNER/PILOT. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED A SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE ON APRIL 24, 2004, IN THE EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR-BUILT CATEGORY. IT HAD BEEN OPERATED 10.1 HOURS SINCE IT WAS BUILT. DURING TAKEOFF THE ELEVATOR CONTROL BECAME STUCK IN POSITION, THE CONTROL COULD NOT BE MOVED FORWARD OR AFT. THE AIRCRAFT WENT TO A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE AND THE PILOT USED THE TRIM TAB TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY. THE NOSE GEAR WAS TORN OFF AND THE LOWER STRUCTURE OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS BENT, BROKEN AND CRUSHED. DURING A POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION, A BOLT WAS FOUND LYING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE AIRCRAFT'S HULL. BY MATCHING THE BOLT WITH OTHER BOLTS IN THE CONTROL SYSTEM, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THIS BOLT HAD FALLEN OUT OF THE ELEVATOR CONTROL PUSHROD-ROD END BOLT HOLE. THIS BOLT ATTACHED TO A BELL CRANK THAT WAS ATTACHED TO A PUSHROD ASSEMBLY THAT MOVED THE ELEVATOR UP AND DOWN. IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED IF THE NUT WAS EVER ON THE BOLT OR IF IT HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA04LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA103), Jun 5, 2004: D'Amico Kitfox Series 7 (N1852N), Caldwell, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The disconnection of the elevator pitch control assembly and the pitch rod during the takeoff as a result of an unsecured bolt.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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