# Accident 20241102016329A: Anderson Garo O 4, Newcastle, PA, November 2, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 2, 2024, 10:20 local time
- Place: Newcastle, PA
- Airport: Newcastle Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.0269° N, 80.4121° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0269&lon=-80.4121&mi=10
- Aircraft: N620GA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N620GA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Anderson Garo O 4 (registry code 05624QK, https://openairdocs.org/model/anderson-garo-o-4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ANDERSON GARO O 4
- Reported engine: BOMBARDIER ROTAX (ALL)
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA041) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241102016329A

## Narrative

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

ON NOVEMBER 5, 2024, AT APPROXIMATELY 10:20 EASTERN TIME AN EXPERIMENTAL ARMATURE BUILT KIT FOX IV, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT THE NEWCASTLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KUCP). THE 14 C.F.R. PART 91 FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED BY A CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND A STUDENT PILOT, AIRCRAFT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. THE PIC/INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THERE WERE NO ABNORMALITIES NOTED DURING PREFLIGHT, GROUND RUN AND PREVIOUS TWO TAKEOFF AND LANDINGS. ON THE THIRD TAKEOFF OF THE DAY DEPARTING RUNWAY 05 AT NEWCASTLE AT 1020 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, THE STUDENT AND THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT AT MID FIELD @ 300 FEET AGL THE ENGINE HAD AN AUDIBLE CHANGE IN SOUND AND LOSS OF POWER. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND NOT WANTING TO LAND LONG OFF THE END OF RUNWAY 05 TURNED RIGHT TO AN OPEN AREA IN THE GRASS EAST OF RUNWAY 05. THE HARD IMPACT OF THE LANDING BROKE THE NOSE GEAR OFF THE AIRCRAFT, BENT THE RIGHT WING TIP UP “DAMAGED SPAR AND WING TO FUSELAGE ATTACHMENT”, FUSELAGE AND RIGHT GEAR SEVERELY DAMAGED, ONLY ONE COMPOSITE PROPELLER BLADE BROKEN FROM THE HUB THE OTHER BLADE WAS SCRAPED BUT INTACT. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND RIGHT OF RUNWAY 05 JUST SHY OF THE TAXIWAY “B” ON A 164-DEGREE HEADING. AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP APPROXIMATELY 45 FEET AWAY FROM IMPACT POINT ON THE WEST SIDE OF TAXIWAY “B”.  POST ACCIDENT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION AND THE TWO PILOTS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. THE PIC/INSTRUCTOR HAD A CUT ON HIS HEAD THAT REQUIRED STICH’S. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD NO INJURIES OTHER THAN BEING SORE FROM THE IMPACT.

A POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING.

•	THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND ON A 164 DEG. HEADING. MARKS IN THE GRASS INDICATE THAT THE NOSE AND THE RIGHT-WING TIP HIT FIRST, SIMULTANEOUSLY.

•	PROPELLER HAD ONLY ONE BLADE THAT SEPARATED FROM THE HUB. ONE COMPOSITE BLADE WAS INTACT WITH LITTLE OR NO ROTATIONAL IMPACT DAMAGE.

•	WHEN THE NOSE GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT THE ENGINE COWL HIT THE GROUND WITH SUCH FORCE THAT THE FUSELAGE BENT BETWEEN THE FIREWALL AND THE AIRCRAFT SEATS.

•	RIGHT HAND WING TIP, SPAR DAMAGE AND WING TO FUSELAGE SEPARATION FROM IMPACT WITH THE GROUND.

•	RIGHT LANDING GEAR BENT AT GEAR TO FUSELAGE ATTACHMENT.

•	LEFT WING BENT UP.

•	ENGINE HAD COMPRESSION, SPARK, AND FUEL WAS CHECK FOR CONTAMINANTS “NONE NOTED”. FUEL COLOR INDICATED REQUIRED OIL PREMIX WAS ADDED.

•	THERE WAS A NOTED STAINING ON THE MUFFLER SHROUD “SUSPECTED FUEL AND OIL PREMIX”. THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP WAS TURNED ON AND A LEAK WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM A FUEL LINE THAT PROVIDES FUEL TO ONE CARBURETOR. THE LEAKING FUEL LINE ATTACHED THE DIAPHRAGM FUEL PUMP TO THE AFT CARBURETOR.  IN MY OPINION THIS LEAK IS THE SUSPECT CAUSE OF ENGINE LOSS OF POWER.

## 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 ERA25LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA041), Nov 2, 2024: Anderson Kitfox 4 (N620GA), New Castle, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power due to a split fuel line that resulted in a fuel leak and reduced fuel supply to the aft carburetor.

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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