# Accident 20250210000929A: Allyn Kaste RANS S-19 (KIT), Doylestown, PA, February 10, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 10, 2025, 11:01 local time
- Place: Doylestown, PA
- Airport: Doylestown Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.3331° N, 75.1223° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3331&lon=-75.1223&mi=10
- Aircraft: N258DK, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N258DK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Allyn Kaste RANS S-19 (KIT) (registry code 056308Z, https://openairdocs.org/model/allyn-kaste-rans-s-19-kit) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax SEE BOMBADIER (registry code 55555, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ALLYN KASTE RANS S-19 (KIT)
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912ULS
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,736 total, 1,186 in this make and model, 31 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA122) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250210000929A

## Narrative

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

PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS UNINJURED AND GAVE A VERBAL STATEMENT. HE SAID HE TOOK OFF AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED TO NEAR IDLE ABOUT 200 FEET AGL. HE TURNED FOR AND LANDED IN THE OPEN PARKING LOT. HE STATED THAT HE FORGOT TO REMOVE COWL PLUGS BEFORE TAKEOFF.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS RESTING INVERTED AND LARGELY INTACT. THE NOSE GEAR WAS BROKEN OFF AND THE CANOPY WAS REMOVED. OBVIOUS AIRCRAFT DAMAGE INCLUDES RIGHT WING OBD SECTION DAMAGE, RIGHT FUSELAGE BELLY STRUCTURE AT GEAR MOUNT BUCKLED AND TORN, LEFT AILERON DAMAGED, VERTICAL STABILIZER AND RUDDER DAMAGED, BELLY SKIN DAMAGE, PROP AND COWL DAMAGE. THIS DAMAGE MEETS THE THRESHOLD FOR SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE PER §830.2.

GROUND SCARRING SUGGESTED THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ON A HEADING OF APPROXIMATELY 70 DEGREES, BOUNCED ONCE AND TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN ON THE NOSE GEAR 55 FEET LATER, AND CAME TO REST INVERTED 99 FEET FROM INITIAL TOUCH DOWN POINT.

THE AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE, ASSOCIATED LIMITATIONS, REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE, AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE MANUALS, AND A PLAUSIBLE WEIGHT AND BALANCE WERE ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT. MAINTENANCE RECORD REVIEW SHOWED THAT THE LAST ANNUAL CONDITION INSPECTION WAS CONDUCTED NINE MONTHS AND 133 HOURS PREVIOUS ON 5/10/2024 AT 1229 HOURS HOBBS TIME; AS WELL AS TWO ENGINE OIL CHANGES.

EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT SHOWED THAT FUEL WAS PRESENT IN BOTH TANKS AND THE GASCOLATOR ON THE FIREWALL. A GASCOLATOR FUEL SAMPLE SHOWED AUTOGAS WITHOUT OBVIOUS CONTAMINATION. FUEL VALVE WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT TANK POSITION. NO OBVIOUS DEFECTS WITH THE IGNITION SYSTEM WERE NOTED. THROTTLE AND CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROLS WERE CONTINUOUS AND CORRECT. RUDDER, ELEVATOR, AND AILERON CONTROLS WERE CONTINUOUS AND CORRECT.

FOAM COWL PLUGS WERE FOUND IN THE RIGHT UPPER COWL OPENING, THE CENTER COWL OPENING, AND IN THE HOSE WHERE THE INDUCTION AIR FILTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD REMOVED THE INDUCTION AIR FILTER THE DAY BEFORE AND FORGOT TO REINSTALL IT. HE REMARKED THAT THE COWL PLUG MUST HAVE GOTTEN SUCKED INTO THE INLET HOSE DURING INITIAL CLIMB, CAUSING THE ENGINE POWER LOSS.

NO PREIMPACT ANOMALIES WERE NOTED IN THE AIRCRAFT RECORDS OR WITH THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE THAT WOULD HAVE PRECLUDED NORMAL OPERATION EXCEPT THE INDUCTION AIR INLET HOSE WAS OBSTRUCTED BY A FOAM COWL PLUG.

## 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 ERA25LA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA122), Feb 10, 2025: Allyn Kaste Rans S-19 (KIT) (N258DK), Doylestown, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate maintenance and preflight inspection.

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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