# NTSB ANC97LA084: Anderson Kitfox IV-1200, N85TA, Fairbanks, AK, June 5, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 4, 1997, 20:00 local (Jun 5, 1997, 04:00 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.809646, -147.720046 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8096&lon=-147.7200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3015 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3015/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA084 ## Probable cause a seized crankshaft connecting rod bearing. A factor relating to the acciden was: the lack of suitable terrain for an emergency landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - engine assembly,connecting rod (cause) - engine assembly,bearing - seized (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis About 15 minutes after takeoff, the engine suddenly lost power, and the pilot performed an emergency landing in a marshy area. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed a seized crankshaft connecting rod bearing. ## Factual narrative On June 4, 1997, about 2000 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped experimental homebuilt, Anderson Kitfox IV, N85TA, crashed during a forced landing, about 6 miles southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight departed North Pole, Alaska, about 1945. The pilot reported he was in cruise flight about 1,500 feet mean sea level. About 15 minutes after departure, the engine RPM began to decrease, and the engine quit. The pilot performed an emergency landing in a marshy area. During the landing, the airplane nosed over. The airplane received damage to the fuselage, landing gear, and propeller. Following the accident, the pilot removed the engine for examination. It was examined at Arctic Sparrow Aircraft Inc., Birchwood, Alaska. The pilot indicated the examination revealed that a crankshaft connecting rod bearing had seized. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N85TA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N85TA), registered now, S/N HCU085, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Anderson Aircraft Corp. KITFOX IV-1200 (KITFOX IV-) - Registry model: [Anderson Timothy C KITFOX IV-1200](https://openairdocs.org/model/anderson-timothy-c-kitfox-iv-1200) (registry code 05628AF) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: HCU085 - Airframe hours: 110 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Timothy C. Anderson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 1997, 15 hours before - Departed: 95Z, NORTH POLE, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 340 total, 110 in this make and model, 268 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 12 knots - Visibility: 80 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 32,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FAI, 6 nm away ## 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 19970605013439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970605013439A), Jun 5, 1997: Amtr KITFOX41200, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. (.4) About 15 minutes after takeoff, the engine suddenly lost power, and the pilot performed an emergency landing in a marshy area. During the landing roll,… 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.