# NTSB CEN12LA577: Jones Kitfox III, N942EJ, Rockford, IL, August 19, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 19, 2012, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Rockford, IL - Coordinates: 42.34914, -89.149276 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3491&lon=-89.1493&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 12, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 84820 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA577 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84820/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84820 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA577 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper installation of a spark plug, which led to a partial loss of engine power after takeoff and the resultant forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Maintenance: installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Jones Edward W KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md?model=056202W), [All aircraft, 371 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md) - [Ignition system: spark plugs/igniters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057421): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Jones Edward W KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057421/cases.md?model=056202W), [All aircraft, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057421/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Jones Edward W KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=056202W), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Jones Edward W KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=056202W), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Jones Edward W KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=056202W), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Jones Edward W KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056202W), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power shortly after takeoff, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that a spark plug that the pilot installed about 2 flight hours before the accident had loosened and separated from its cylinder during the accident takeoff. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if the spark plugs were tightened and rechecked when they were installed. ## Factual narrative On August 19, 2012, about 1245 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Jones Kitfox III, N942EJ, impacted terrain following a loss of engine power after takeoff from Cottonwood Airport, Rockford, Illinois. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field after the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. The private pilot and a passenger were uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wing, and stabilizer. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the local flight that was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that the airplane experienced a loss of engine power after takeoff while at 300 feet above ground level. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a bean field. The pilot stated that a spark plug had loosened after he replaced it about 2 hours of time in service before the accident flight. The pilot's safety recommendation was to tighten and then recheck spark plugs when they are installed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N942EJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N942EJ), registered now, S/N 942, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Jones Kitfox III - Registry model: [Jones Edward W KITFOX III](https://openairdocs.org/model/jones-edward-w-kitfox-iii) (registry code 056202W) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 942 - Airframe hours: 300 - Engines: Rotax 582 60 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Condition, April 5, 2011 - Departed: 1C8, Rockford, IL - Destination: 1C8, Rockford, IL - Airport: 1C8, Cottonwood Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 21, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 190 total, 90 in this make and model, 108 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 13,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 50 °F - Observed at: RFD, 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 20120819019099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120819019099A), Aug 19, 2012: Jones Edward W KITFOX III, Rockford, IL, Substantial damage. On 8/19/012 aircraft N942EJ departed runway 36, Cottonwood Airport. Shortly after liftoff, the PIC heard a bang with a subsequent loss of engine power. The… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 31, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84820. 997 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 884 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392377&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 2, .PDF, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392379&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Redacted.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.