# NTSB CHI05LA228: Auseth Kitfox IV, N912PJ, Little Grand La, MN, August 10, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 10, 2005, 11:48 local (16:48 UTC)
- Place: Little Grand La, MN
- Coordinates: 46.848056, -92.193611
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8481&lon=-92.1936&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 62505
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05LA228
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62505/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05LA228

## Probable cause

The inadequate flare during landing by the pilot.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing
  - flare - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The airplane experienced a hard landing breaking both floats.  The uncertificated pilot attempted an aborted landing, and the airplane's left wing dropped and contacted water.  The fracture of the forward float attachment point did not exhibit features consistent with a preexisting crack.

## Factual narrative

On August 10, 2005, at 1148 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Kitfox IV, owned and piloted by an uncertificated pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with Little Grand Lake, Minnesota, during a hard landing.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan.  The pilot and passenger were uninjured.  The flight originated from Little Grand Lake at 1030.

According to the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office Police Report, the airplane experienced a hard landing and one of the floats broke off.  The pilot attempted an aborted landing, and the airplane's left wing dropped and contacted water.

The pilot stated that when he first touched down he heard a loud 'snap' or 'bang'.  When he "settled down" a second time, he did not know what happened.

The pilot stated that the left front airframe attachment point broke allowing the left float to go under the left wing, and the rear of the left float went under the fuselage, pivoting on the still attached left rear strut.  The front of the right float went under the engine compartment where the propeller hit the front of the right float.

A photo of the front attachment point taken by the pilot displays bending along the fracture surface and discoloration consistent with recent oxidation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N912PJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N912PJ), registered now, S/N 1531, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Auseth Kitfox IV
- Registry model: [Auseth Gary KITFOX IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/auseth-gary-kitfox-iv) (registry code 95708CP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1531
- Airframe hours: 638
- Engines: Rotax Unknown 80 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Pilot
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, January 1, 2005, 26.8 hours before
- Departed: Little Grand La, MN
- Airport: Little Grand Lake

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; seat: left; flight hours: 144 total, 88 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: DLH, 15 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 20050810023879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050810023879A), Aug 10, 2005: Amtr KITFOXIV, Duluth, MN, Destroyed. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] attempted a landing on little grand lake, 30 miles nnw of Duluth, MN. The aircraft touched down on the water, started to…

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.

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