# NTSB CHI03LA012: Mork Kitfox III, N192MB, Evansville, WI, October 27, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 27, 2002, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Evansville, WI - Coordinates: 42.769344, -89.289115 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7693&lon=-89.2891&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55964 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA012 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55964/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA012 ## Probable cause The loss of power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor is the unsuitable terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - base turn - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis The amateur-built airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a cornfield after a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that he was turning from left base to final when the engine failed. He reported, "I applied power and the engine would not come up in RPM's and/or seized." He landed in a cornfield about 500 feet from the approach end of his private grass airstrip. The inspection of the engine and flight controls revealed continuity and no anomalies were noted. The engine was removed from the airframe and placed on an engine test stand. The engine started without effort and produced power as designed. No abnormalities were noted. The pilot reported that the local temperature was 5 degrees Celsius and the dew point was - 3 degrees Celsius. The Transport Canada Carburetor Icing Chart indicates that the possibility of "Serious icing" existed when "descent power" was used. ## Factual narrative On October 27, 2002, at 1130 central standard time, an amateur-built Mork Kitfox III, N192MB, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a cornfield after a loss of engine power. The private pilot was not injured. The Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight departed from the pilot's grass airstrip near Evansville, Wisconsin, at 1000, on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he was turning from left base to final when the engine failed to respond. He reported, "I applied power and the engine would not come up in RPM's and/or seized." He landed in a cornfield about 500 feet from the approach end of his private grass airstrip. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector examined the airplane. He reported that during the initial inspection, the engine and flight controls exhibited continuity and no anomalies were noted. The inspection of the engine revealed the following: the cylinder compression was good; the carburetor bowls contained clean automotive fuel; the throttle slides moved freely; the intake manifold were properly installed; and the air filter was normal. The carburetor was removed and the rotary valve was inspected with no defects found. The rotary timing was correct. The pistons and combustion chambers were checked with no defects found. The piston rings were free within the ring grooves and there was no carbon buildup on the piston domes. The engine was removed from the airframe and placed on an engine test stand. The FAA inspector who was present during the engine run reported, "The engine started without effort and produced power as designed. No abnormalities were noted." The pilot reported that the local temperature at Evansville, Wisconsin, was 5 degrees Celsius and the dew point was - 3 degrees Celsius. The Transport Canada Carburetor Icing Chart indicates that the possibility of "Serious icing" existed when "descent power" was used. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N192MB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N192MB-2009-11-16), registration cancelled 2009-11-16, S/N 1102, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mork Kitfox III - Registry model: [Mork Darryl L KITFOX III](https://openairdocs.org/model/mork-darryl-l-kitfox-iii) (registry code 957053E) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1102 - Airframe hours: 224 - Engines: Rotax 582LC 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James C. Bembinster - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 29, 2002, 4 hours before - Departed: Evansville, WI - Airport: Private Airstrip, runway 09, 1,000 × 85 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 28, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 354 total, 140 in this make and model, 313 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: MSN, 60 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 20021027033649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021027033649A), Oct 27, 2002: Amtr KITFOXIII, Evansville, WI, Destroyed. (-23) While on approach to landing at a private airstrip, the pilot applied throttle to arrest the aircraft's descent and the engine failed to respond. The… 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.