# NTSB CEN11LA415: Bins Tom Kitfox IV, N211KF, Lafayette, LA, September 24, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 24, 2011, 08:52 local (13:52 UTC) - Place: Lafayette, LA - Coordinates: 30.203056, -91.985832 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2031&lon=-91.9858&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 80886 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA415 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80886/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80886 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA415 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of control during a forced landing after a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bins Tom KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05618VC), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bins Tom KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05618VC), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Bins Tom KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05618VC), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Bins Tom KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05618VC), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Bins Tom KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05618VC), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Bins Tom KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05618VC), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot initiated a 270-degree turn back to the runway after a partial loss of engine power during takeoff. As he was turning back, the engine continued to lose power and the pilot made a forced landing to a grass field. The pilot said that he was in control of the airplane until it was 15 to 20 feet above the ground when it lost lift, landed hard, and flipped over. A postaccident test run of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies. ## Factual narrative On September 24, 2011, at 0852, N211KF, an experimental Tom Bins Kitfox IV equipped with floats, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing shortly after takeoff from Lafayette Regional Airport (LAF), Lafayette, Louisiana. The private pilot/owner sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that he departed Lafayette with 15 gallons of fuel on board with the intentions of making just one circuit in the traffic pattern followed by a full-stop landing. Shortly after takeoff, when the airplane reached an altitude of 400 feet, the pilot heard a "swoosh" and a "loud bang" followed by a 50 percent reduction in power. He elected to return back to the runway and initiated a 270 degree turn. As he was turning back, the engine continued to lose power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and made a forced landing to a grass field about 1/8 of a mile from the runway. The pilot said he was in “complete control” of the airplane but it "lost lift" when it was 15-20 feet high. The airplane "dropped" on to the ground, landed hard, and flipped over. Examination of on-site photos revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and the wing struts. Both floats and one propeller blade were also damaged. The engine was test-run under the supervision of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The engine was started utilizing fuel in the carburetor bowls and then run until the fuel was exhausted. The carburetor bowls were refilled and the engine was re-started. This time engine power was increased and both magnetos were checked. No anomalies were noted with the magnetos or the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N211KF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N211KF-2018-01-02), registration cancelled 2018-01-02, S/N 1496, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BINS TOM KITFOX IV - Registry model: [Bins Tom KITFOX IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/bins-tom-kitfox-iv) (registry code 05618VC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1496 - Airframe hours: 643 - Engines: Rotax 912 95 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Johnson Donald G - Registered owner: Johnson Donald G - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: LFT, Lafayette, LA - Destination: LFT, Lafayette, LA - Airport: LFT, Lafayette Regional, runway 22L, 7,651 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, unknown; last flight review January 15, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 7,775 total, 450 in this make and model, 7,675 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: LFT, 1 nm away ## Other investigations on N211KF (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 NYC96LA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA190), Sep 28, 1996: Bins Kitfox IV (N211KF), Pittsfield, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of directional control, the airplane veering off the runway, and a subsequent nose over. The adverse wind condition… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 8, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80886. 844 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 699 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362529&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362605&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Summary of Findings: Engine Examination/Test Run (item 3, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362538&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Summary%20of%20Findings%3A%20Engine%20Examination%2FTest%20Run-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.