# NTSB BFO93LA166: Wilson KIT FOX Model 4, N193CW, Bowdoinham, ME, September 8, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 8, 1993, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Bowdoinham, ME - Location: 43.9923° N, 69.8701° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from MERRYMEETING FLD (08B), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9923&lon=-69.8701&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 17, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8814 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO93LA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8814/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO93LA166 ## Probable cause LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) - In flight collision with object, landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. THE PILOT TURNED BACK TOWARD THE RUNWAY, BUT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLEAR TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TREES AND CAME TO REST IN THE TREE TOPS ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES. FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS AND FUEL LINES LEADING TO THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS RUN AND A FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD LOST TOTAL POWER ON THE PREVIOUS FLIGHT. HE STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE AIRPLANE'S ELECTRONICS, SPECIFICALLY, THE ENGINE'S DOUBLE COIL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CHECKED THE AIRPLANE'S ELECTRONICS AND A FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. ## Factual narrative On Wednesday, September 8, 1993, at about 1400 eastern daylight time, a Kit Fox Model 4, N193CW, owned and operated by Charles Cunningham of Bowdoinham, Maine, and Robert Wilson of Brunswick, Maine, and piloted by Charles Cunningham, lost total engine power shortly after takeoff from runway 14 at the Merrymeeting airport located in Bowdoinham. The airplane collided with trees during the subsequent forced landing and was substantially damaged. The pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that shortly after takeoff, the airplane's Rotax two cylinder engine lost total power. He stated he tried to reverse direction and land the airplane on runway 32. He stated the airplane did not have enough altitude to clear the trees at the approach end of the runway. The airplane impacted the trees and came to rest on the treetops about 50 feet above the ground. Post accident examination of the engine was accomplished and no anomalies were noted. Fuel was found in the fuel tanks and fuel lines leading to the engine. The engine was started and ran without any anomalies noted. The engine failure could not be duplicated. The pilot stated that the airplane's engine had lost total power on a previous flight. He stated that he thought the problem was with the airplane's electronics because the tachometer was "very erratic." He stated he checked all the airplane's electronic equipment and could not duplicate the problem. The pilot stated that he thought the engine's double coil was "shorting out." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N193CW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N193CW-2017-07-18), registration cancelled 2017-07-18, S/N 1572 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WILSON KIT FOX MODEL 4 (KIT FOX MO) - Registry model: [Wilson Robert KITFOX IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/wilson-robert-kitfox-iv) (registry code 05623RH) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1572 - Airframe hours: 15 - Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Charles W. Cunningham - Registered owner: R. Wilson & C. Cunningham - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 1993, 15 hours before - Airport: 08B, Merrymeeting Field, runway 14, 1,948 × 100 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 152 total, 3 in this make and model, 152 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LEW, 10 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 19930908033559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930908033559A), Sep 8, 1993: Amtrdf KITFOX, Bowdoinham, ME, Substantial damage. Lost power on climbout. Reversed course for runway 32 but landed in tree tops. Beleive ignition double coil shorted 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.