# Accident 20230413004509A: Pipistrel Lsa Srl SINUS, Kingsford, MI, April 13, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 13, 2023, 11:40 local time
- Place: Kingsford, MI
- Airport: Iron Mountain Ford Internation
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Run-Up Area
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.8184° N, 88.1146° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8184&lon=-88.1146&mi=10
- Aircraft: N413EK, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N413EK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Pipistrel Lsa SINUS (registry code 0600083, https://openairdocs.org/model/pipistrel-lsa-sinus) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912UL series (registry code 55571, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPISTREL LSA SRL SINUS
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912UL SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 356 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA165) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230413004509A

## Narrative

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

ON APRIL 13, 2023 AT 1140 LOCAL TIME, A LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT (LSA) PIPISTREL LSA SRL SINUS, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY A PRIVATE PILOT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FOLLOWING A PREFLIGHT ENGINE FIRE ON RUNWAY 19 AT THE IRON MOUNTAIN FORD AIRPORT (IMT), KINGSFORD, MICHIGAN. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91 WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN.  BOTH THE PILOT AND PASSENGER RECEIVED NO INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE MENOMINEE REGIONAL AIRPORT (MNM), MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN.

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE HAD FLOWN THE AIRCRAFT TO IMT FOR A TRANSPONDER CHECK. ONCE THE INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED THE PILOT AND PASSENGER STARTED THE AIRCRAFT AND TAXIED TO THE MAIN RUNWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. PILOT STATES THE PREFLIGHT RUN-UP AND MAGNETO CHECK WERE COMPLETED AND THROTTLE WAS ADVANCED TO TAKEOFF POWER, IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE QUIT. NO FUEL SMELL WAS NOTED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED RESTART 2 MORE TIMES WITH THE SAME RESULT. AFTER THE THIRD START ATTEMPT THE PILOT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE COWL. THE PILOT STATES HE SHUT THE FUEL VALVE AND MAGNETO SWITCHES OFF AND EGRESSED FROM THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE PASSENGER.

AIRPORT FIRE CREWS RESPONDED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE THAT WAS FULLY CONSUMING THE FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT. FOLLOWING NTSB AUTHORIZATION, THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOWED BACK TO THE MAINTENANCE FACILITY FOR STORAGE.

THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE ARE TOTALLY FIRE DAMAGED FORWARD OF THE FIREWALL WITH THE WINDSHIELD MELTED. AT THIS TIME NO CAUSE FOR THE FIRE HAS BEEN DETERMINED.

## 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 CEN23LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA165), Apr 13, 2023: Pipistrel Lsa Sinus (N413EK), Kingsford, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of maintenance personnel to properly secure the left carburetor bowl cover, which resulted in an engine fire before takeoff.

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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