# NTSB DEN02LA031: Doyle Kitfox III, N8SD, Windsor, CO, March 10, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 10, 2002, 11:10 local (18:10 UTC) - Place: Windsor, CO - Location: 40.4782° N, 104.9153° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Windsor, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4782&lon=-104.9153&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 54345 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54345/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54345 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA031 ## Probable cause loss of engine power due to restricted fuel flow for reasons undetermined. A contributing factor was the unsuitable terrain on which to make a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - flow restricted (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis The pilot said that while cruising 800 feet above the ground, "the engine stopped and the propeller also came to a complete stop." Unsuccessful in attempting to restart the engine, the pilot made a forced landing in a hay field. The tall grass caused the airplane to nose over, crushing the vertical stabilizer. The pilot surmised "a fuel flow problem" had caused the engine to lose power. ## Factual narrative On March 10, 2002, approximately 1110 mountain standard time, a Doyle Kitfox III amateur-built airplane, N8SD, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during a forced landing near Windsor, Colorado. The private pilot and a passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Part 91. The flight originated at Greeley, Colorado, at 1045, and was en route to Loveland, Colorado. According to the pilot's accident report, he was cruising at 800 feet above the ground when the engine lost power. He made a forced landing in a hay field. The tall grass caused the airplane to nose over, crushing the vertical stabilizer. According to a statement made to the Weld County Sheriff's Office, the pilot indicated that "the engine stopped and the propeller also came to a complete stop." He also stated he was unsuccessful in attempting to restart the engine in flight. Contacted after the accident, the pilot surmised "a fuel flow problem" had resulted in the loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8SD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8SD-2007-05-19), registration cancelled 2007-05-19, S/N 1001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Doyle Kitfox III - Registry model: [Doyle Scott KITFOX III](https://openairdocs.org/model/doyle-scott-kitfox-iii) (registry code 05618W3) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1001 - Airframe hours: 380 - Engines: Rotax 582 LC 66 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: W. Scott Doyle - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 15, 2002, 10 hours before - Departed: GXY, Greeley, CO - Destination: FNL, Fort Collins, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 21, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 450 total, 350 in this make and model, 450 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: GXY, 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 20020310003799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020310003799A), Mar 10, 2002: Amtr KITFOXIII, Windsor, CO, No damage. (-23) During cruise the engine started to lose power, the pilot switched fuel tanks and added throttle, the engine continued to lose power and stop. Emergency… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 29, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54345. 492 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 283 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392753&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Supplement S (item 2, .PDF, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40162633&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - Weld County Sheriff's Report (item 3, .PDF, 175 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392754&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weld%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Report-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.