# NTSB CEN09LA134: Inman J D Kolb Mark III, N313JD, Ozark, AR, January 7, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 7, 2009, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Ozark, AR - Coordinates: 35.489749, -93.839027 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4897&lon=-93.8390&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 73239 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73239/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73239 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA134 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. Contributing to the accident was the pilot maintaining a high angle of attack during takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall when the engine failed. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Inman J D KOLB MARK III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05602PW), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Inman J D KOLB MARK III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05602PW), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Inman J D KOLB MARK III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05602PW), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Inman J D KOLB MARK III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=05602PW), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Inman J D KOLB MARK III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05602PW), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Inman J D KOLB MARK III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05602PW), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Inman J D KOLB MARK III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05602PW), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Inman J D KOLB MARK III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05602PW), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis During takeoff, about 20 feet above the ground, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. The sport pilot was unable to recover from a nose-high attitude prior to the airplane stalling and landing hard. During the landing rollout, the airplane contacted a berm resulting in substantial damage to the airplane and serious injuries to the pilot. An examination of the airplane revealed fuel contamination. The source of the fuel contamination could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On January 7, 2009, about 1100 central standard time, an Inman Kolb Mark III airplane, N313JD, piloted by a sport pilot, was substantially damaged following a loss of power and subsequent forced landing at a private airstrip near Ozark, Arkansas. The pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. According to a statement provided by the pilot, he had added 5 gallons of 91-octane automobile fuel to the fuel tank prior to flight. He reported that a sump of the fuel did not reveal any contaminates. After completing a 10-minute local flight the pilot landed. He then decided to take off again. During takeoff he rotated the airplane at 65 miles per hour (mph) and was about 20 feet above the ground when the engine stopped producing power. The pilot could not pitch the nose of the airplane down before the airplane stalled. The airplane descended and experienced a hard landing. During the landing, the airplane departed the runway and collided with a berm. Substantial damage was sustained to the airplane's left aileron. An on-scene examination was conducted and control continuity and throttle continuity was established. Two fuel samples, taken from the airplane's fuel sump drain, revealed the presence of white particles. The source of the fuel contaminates could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N313JD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N313JD), registered now, S/N M3139 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: INMAN J D KOLB MARK III - Registry model: [Inman J D KOLB MARK III](https://openairdocs.org/model/inman-j-d-kolb-mark-iii) (registry code 05602PW) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: M3139 - Airframe hours: 233 - Engines: Bombardier Rotax 65 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Tate Isaac - Registered owner: Tate Isaac - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 20, 2008, 30 hours before - Departed: Ozark, AR - Destination: Ozark, AR - Airport: Private Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: serious; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, unknown; last flight review January 8, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 500 total, 100 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.73 inHg - Observed at: FSM, 36 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 20090107000489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090107000489A), Jan 7, 2009: Inman KOLBMKIII, Coal Hill, AR, Minor damage. (-23) 01/07/2009 1300 Hrs. Airplane N313JD, make:Inman j.d. model:kolb mark iii, amature built, experimental aircraft, located at [privacy data omitted], N35… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 22, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73239. 711 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 624 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314417&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 (item 2, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314418&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-Master.PDF - Photo 2 (item 3, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314419&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-Master.PDF 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.