# NTSB CEN13CA230: Wing Harold Kitfox II, N389HW, Blaine, MN, April 16, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 16, 2013, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Blaine, MN - Coordinates: 45.144721, -93.209999 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1447&lon=-93.2100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 86662 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA230 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86662/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86662 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA230 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper touchdown and subsequent failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of experience in tailwheel-equipped airplanes. ## 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: [Wing Harold KITFOX MODEL 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=056163S), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Wing Harold KITFOX MODEL 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=056163S), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Wing Harold KITFOX MODEL 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=056163S), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091) (defining event); cases with it: [Wing Harold KITFOX MODEL 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=056163S), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Wing Harold KITFOX MODEL 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056163S), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Wing Harold KITFOX MODEL 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=056163S), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis On the pilot's first landing in the accident airplane, the airplane’s tailwheel touched down first, and then the airplane bounced on the main landing gear and rotated to the right. The pilot applied left rudder and added power in an attempt to go-around; however, the airplane’s right main gear and wing tip struck the ground, and the airplane nosed down, shearing off the propeller before coming to rest on the nose. The pilot said there was nothing mechanically wrong with the airplane. He reported only 3.4 hours of previous experience in tailwheel-equipped airplanes. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the right wing spar. ## Factual narrative On the pilot's first landing, the tail wheel touched down first and the airplane bounced on the main gear, then rotated to the right. The pilot applied left rudder and added power in an attempt to go-around. The right main gear and right wing tip struck the ground, and the airplane nosed down, shearing off the propeller before coming to rest on the nose. The pilot said there was nothing mechanically wrong with the airplane. Postaccident examination revealed the right wing spar, outboard of the lift strut, and the ribs were broken. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N389HW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N389HW-2014-12-22), registration cancelled 2014-12-22, S/N 389 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WING HAROLD KITFOX II - Registry model: [Wing Harold KITFOX MODEL 2](https://openairdocs.org/model/wing-harold-kitfox-model-2) (registry code 056163S) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 389 - Airframe hours: 220 - Engines: Rotax UL 582MOD99 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dennis E. Fitch - Registered owner: Dennis E. Fitch - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 1, 2012, 1 hours before - Departed: KANE, Blaine, MN - Destination: KANE, Blaine, MN - Airport: KANE, Anoka County-Janes Field, runway 27, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 30, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 4,460 total, 0 in this make and model, 4,267 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Observed at: KANE ## 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 20130416004539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130416004539A), Apr 16, 2013: Wing Harold KITFOX MODEL 2, Blaine, MN, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that he touched down near the end of runway 27 at 35-45 mph. Aircraft touched down tail wheel first and then bounced on to the mains and the… ## Other investigations on N389HW (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 CEN10CA461](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA461), Aug 2, 2010: Wing Kitfox II (N389HW), Park Rapids, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the pilot's failure to adequately flare during the water landing. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 30, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86662. 453 KB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391428&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - FAA Form 1360-33, Record of Conference (item 2, .PDF, 328 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391029&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Form%201360-33,%20Record%20of%20Conference-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.