# NTSB CHI94DET01: Arthur Alan Blind FOX III Speedster, N61AB, Watervliet, MI, June 12, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report - Date: June 12, 1994, 10:25 local (14:25 UTC) - Place: Watervliet, MI - Coordinates: 42.180912, -86.25093 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1809&lon=-86.2509&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 14, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9350 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94DET01 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9350/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94DET01 ## Probable cause a total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - fuel system,carburetor - ice - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE WAS OVER THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED, AND THE AIRPORT IS SURROUNDED BY TALL TREES AND ROUGH TERRAIN. THE PILOT TURNED BACK TOWARDS THE AIRPORT AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING IN A CLEARING IN THE TREES. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE TREETOPS, AND CRASHED TO THE GROUND. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AT AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR STATION. THE ENGINE RAN WITHOUT MALFUNCTION ON THE TEST STAND. THE TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT COMBINATION WAS 73/62. THIS IS IN THE AREA KNOWN TO BE FAVORABLE FOR CARBURETOR ICING. THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS FOUND IN THE 'OFF' POSITION DURING THE INITIAL EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 12, 1994, at 1025 eastern daylight time, an Arthur Alan Blind Kit Fox III Speedster, N61AB, sustained substantial damage while during an emergency landing at the Watervliet Municipal Airport, Watervliet, Michigan. The commercial pilot was not injured. The sole passenger in the airplane received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that the engine lost power on takeoff at the end of the runway. He said the airport was surrounded by high trees and rough terrain. He turned back toward the airport and attempted to steer towards a clearing in the woods. The airplane made contact with the tops of some trees and subsequently collided with terrain. TESTS AND RESEARCH The engine was removed and taken to an authorized repair station for further examination. The engine was run on a test stand without any malfunction. The temperature at the time of the accident was 73 degrees F, and the dew point was 62 degrees F. This temperature/dew point combination is in the range of values known to be favorable for carburetor icing. The carburetor heat was found in the OFF position during the initial examination of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61AB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N61AB), registered now, S/N HBS 041, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ARTHUR ALAN BLIND FOX III SPEEDSTER (FOX III SP) - Registry model: [Blind A Alan KITFOX III SPEEDSTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/blind-a-alan-kitfox-iii-speedster) (registry code 05624CN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: HBS-041 - Airframe hours: 65 - Engines: ROTAX 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Arthur Alan Blind - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: AAIP, June 3, 1994, 15 hours before - Destination: C91, DOWAGIAC, MI - Airport: 40C, Watervliet Muni, runway 20, 2,600 × 200 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 414 total, 38 in this make and model, 344 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 11 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SBN, 29 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 19940612015089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940612015089A), Jun 12, 1994: Amtrdf KITFOX, Watervliet, MI, Substantial damage. Lost power on climbout. Crash landed off end runway. No engine problems. Carburetor icing existed. 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.