# Accident 20130728020099A: Phelps Rex Dale KITFOX III, Oshkosh, WI, July 28, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 28, 2013, 11:50 local time
- Place: Oshkosh, WI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.9553° N, 88.6822° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9553&lon=-88.6822&mi=10
- Aircraft: N873RX, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N873RX) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Phelps Rex Dale KITFOX III (registry code 05605CP, https://openairdocs.org/model/phelps-rex-dale-kitfox-iii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PHELPS REX DALE KITFOX III
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13FA440](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA440) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130728020099A

## Narrative

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

WHILE ON THE ARRIVAL INTO THE OSHKOSH AIRPORT THE PILOT NOTICED THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH AND QUIT SHORTLY THERE AFTER. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY TRIED TWO UNSUCCESSFUL RESTARTS WHILE SELECTING AN EMERGENCY LANDING SITE. THE PILOT LANDED THE KITFOX IN A FIELD LOCATED NEAR FISK AVENUE IN OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN. DURING THE LANDING THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE BUCKLING THE MAIN LANDING GEAR, SHEARING OFF THE PROPELLER BLADES AND BENDING THE FUSELAGE IN SEVERAL AREAS.

DURING THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION THE INSPECTORS DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL HOSE FROM THE LEFT TANK TO THE FUEL SHUT OFF VALVE HAD A KINKED AREA THAT RESTRICTED THE FUEL FLOW TO THE FEEDER TANK. THIS CAUSED THE FUEL STARVATION THAT LED TO THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE FUEL LINE DURING NORMAL OPERATION WAS ROUTED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THERE WAS A GREATER THAN NINETY DEGREE BEND IN IT WHICH LED TO THE KINK/COLLAPSE OF THE FUEL HOSE AND EVENTUALLY CLOSING OFF THE FUEL SUPPLY FROM THE WING FUEL TANK  TO THE FEEDER TANK LOCATED BEHIND THE PILOT AND PASSENGER SEATS.

## 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 CEN13FA440](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA440), Jul 28, 2013: Phelps Kitfox III (N873RX), Oshkosh, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The degraded fuel line, which prevented fuel from the left tank from reaching the header tank and resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

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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