# NTSB CEN17LA366: Emerson Kitfox, N91904, Waller, TX, September 24, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 24, 2017, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Waller, TX - Coordinates: 29.984722, -95.931114 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9847&lon=-95.9311&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Houston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96082 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA366 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96082/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96082 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA366 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Epperson Edwin R 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=05611RN), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Epperson Edwin R 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05611RN), [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. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Epperson Edwin R 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05611RN), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Epperson Edwin R 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05611RN), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that, after he climbed the non-certificated, experimental airplane to 300 to 400 ft above ground level after takeoff, there was a partial loss of engine power. The engine continued to operate but was unable to produce adequate power to sustain flight. The pilot attempted to land in a field near a residential area and the airplane impacted a fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The fuel in the airplane had not been changed for about 12 months before the accident; however, a limited examination of the wreckage determined that the fuel onboard the airplane tested negative for water. The airplane was manufactured in 2001 and never received an airworthiness certificate. The postaccident examination was limited and the reason for the loss of power was not determined. ## Factual narrative On September 24, 2017, about 1700 central daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Emerson Kitfox airplane, N91904, collided with terrain following a loss of engine power after takeoff from the Skydive Houston Airport (37XA), Waller, Texas. The pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to a private individual and was being operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions existed near the accident site at the time of the flight, and a flight plan had not been filed. The flight was departing 37XA on a local flight. The pilot reported he did a preflight and engine run-up and it appeared the airplane was operating normally. He decided to takeoff and fly around the traffic pattern. The airplane climbed to 300 to 400 ft above ground level when there was a partial loss of engine power. He stated that the engine continued to operate but did not develop enough power to sustain flight. The pilot attempted to land in a field near a residential area, and the airplane impacted a fence which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot purchased the airplane in October 28, 2016, and the fuel in the airplane had not been changed since at least October 2016. The airplane was manufactured in 2001 but had never received an airworthiness certificate. The pilot did not have a current medical certificate. The wreckage was examined by a FAA operations inspector who performed a limited inspection of the airplane. The inspector determined there was fuel at the scene and there was no evidence of water in the fuel. No further examination into the cause of the loss of engine power was conducted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N91904](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91904-2019-11-04), registration cancelled 2019-11-04, S/N 61 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EMERSON Kitfox - Registry model: [Epperson Edwin R 1](https://openairdocs.org/model/epperson-edwin-r-1) (registry code 05611RN) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 61 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 24 - Engines: ROTAX 503 UL DCDI 52 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 37XA, Waller, TX - Destination: 37XA, Waller, TX - Airport: 37XA, Skydive Houston Airport - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 7 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: TME, 11 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 20170924021429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170924021429A), Sep 24, 2017: Epperson Edwin R HOME BUILT KIT FOX MODEL 1, Waller, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that he had a clean run up of the aircraft. Took off to the south and shortly after take off he lost power between 300-400FT. Pilot stated that… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 24, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96082. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462377&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - NTSB Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462379&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 3, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462380&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-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.