# NTSB ANC03LA009: Arima Kolb Fire Star II, N8199, Chugiak, AK, November 1, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 1, 2002, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Chugiak, AK - Coordinates: 61.400001, -149.5 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4000&lon=-149.5000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55995 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55995/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA009 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which failed to remove contaminated fuel from the airplane's fuel system, resulting in a loss of engine power during takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with object, emergency landing after takeoff - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The private pilot/owner reported that the experimental homebuilt airplane had been stored outside, and had not been utilized within the last two years. He said that just prior to the accident, he had accomplished three successful touch-and-go landings. During the fourth takeoff roll, the airplane climbed to about 50 feet above the runway, and the Rotax 503 engine suddenly lost significant power. During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane collided with several trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. An FAA inspector inspected the airplane and reported that both carburetor float bowls contained murky, silty, and rust-colored fuel. ## Factual narrative On November 1, 2002, about 1345 Alaska standard time, a wheel-equipped experimental homebuilt Arima Kolb Fire Star II airplane, N8199, sustained substantial damage when it struck trees during a forced landing after takeoff from the Birchwood Airport, Chugiak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The solo private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Birchwood Airport about 1300. No flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge on November 1, the pilot reported that the accident airplane had been stored outside, and had not been utilized within the last two years. He added that just prior to the accident, he had accomplished three successful touch-and-go landings on runway 19R. He said that on the fourth touch-and-go landing roll, he added power for another takeoff. As the airplane climbed to about 50 feet above the runway, he said the engine, a Rotax 503, suddenly lost significant power, and he selected a forced landing area ahead of the airplane. During the forced landing, the airplane collided with several trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. On November 1, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations inspector, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office, traveled to the Birchwood Airport to inspect the airplane. The inspector reported that both carburetor float bowls were found to contain murky, silty, and rust-colored fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8199](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8199-2004-10-08), registration cancelled 2004-10-08, S/N F1095, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Arima Kolb Fire Star II - Registry model: [Arima Wallace S KOLB FIRE STAR II](https://openairdocs.org/model/arima-wallace-s-kolb-fire-star-ii) (registry code 05603GT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Airframe hours: 23 - Engines: Rotax 503-DCD1 55 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Wallace S. Arima - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: BCV, Chugiak, AK - Destination: BCV, Chugiak, AK - Airport: BCV, Birchwood, runway 19R, 4,010 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, expired; seat: front; flight hours: 300 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20021101032939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021101032939A), Nov 1, 2002: Amtr FIRESTARII, Birchwood, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On 11/01/2002 about 1300 ast, a wheel equipped kolb fire star, N8199, sustained substantial damage during takeoff at Birchwood Airport, Birchwood, AK.… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.