# NTSB ERA09LA293: Gossard Ronald F Kitfox IV, N92RG, Camden, NC, May 17, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 17, 2009, 10:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Camden, NC - Coordinates: 36.549999, -76.26667 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5500&lon=-76.2667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73850 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA293 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73850/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73850 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA293 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to an in-flight separation of the engine muffler exhaust pipe and resulting impingement of hot exhaust gases on the carburetor. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine exhaust](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057800): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Gossard Ronald F KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057800/cases.md?model=05618TR), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057800/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Gossard Ronald F KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=05618TR), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Gossard Ronald F KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05618TR), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Gossard Ronald F KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05618TR), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During cruise flight, the pilot noted an unusual amount of heat on his left leg, followed by engine surges. Despite attempts to adjust the throttle, the engine continued to lose power, and a forced landing was attempted on a dirt road. During the landing, the right wing struck trees and the airplane spun around to the right before coming to a stop. The pilot sustained broken ribs during the forced landing. An examination of the wreckage revealed the 90-degree exhaust pipe from the engine muffler separated in flight. The separation occurred at the weld joint on the muffler body. One of the air filter housings was heat-deformed. With the exhaust pipe missing, hot gases were allowed to impinge upon the carburetor and air filters. The missing exhaust pipe was not recovered. ## Factual narrative On May 17, 2009, about 1020 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur built Ronald F. Gossard Kitfox IV, N92RG, was substantially damaged following a forced landing and impact with trees near Camden, North Carolina. The airplane received substantial damage and the private pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight to First Flight Airport (FFA), Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. The flight originated at Northeastern Regional Airport (EDE), Edenton, North Carolina, about 1000. The pilot reported that about 20 minutes after departure from EDE, at about 1,200 feet above ground level (AGL), the engine began to surge. He also noted that prior to the engine surges, he felt an unusual amount of heat on his left leg. He attempted to stabilize the engine with throttle adjustments; however the engine continued to lose power. He made a radio call to friends in another airplane that he was going to attempt a forced landing. He set up the airplane to land into the wind on a dirt road. During the forced landing, the right wing struck a tree and the airplane spun around to the right approximately 120 degrees before coming to a stop with the left wing imbedded against another tree. The pilot exited the airplane and North Carolina Highway Patrol personnel arrived at the scene and rendered assistance. The pilot later checked into a local hospital and was treated for broken ribs and released. During the recovery of the wreckage, the pilot reported that a 90-degree pipe that directs hot exhaust out of the engine muffler and overboard was broken off and missing. The exhaust pipe was not recovered at the accident site. Paint on the engine cowling adjacent to the missing exhaust pipe was scorched and bubbled. One of the air filter housings that attaches to one of the carburetors was deformed and showed signs of melting. Subsequent examination of the muffler revealed that the exhaust pipe separated along the weld joint on the muffler body. The location of the failed joint would allow hot exhaust gases to impinge on the carburetors and air filters. The 1038 weather observation for Elizabeth City, North Carolina (ECG), located about 5 miles south of the accident site, included the following: scattered clouds at 2,300 feet, broken clouds at 11,000 feet, surface winds from 250 degrees at 9 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, temperature 25 degrees Celsius, dew point 19 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.97 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N92RG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N92RG), registered now, S/N 1638, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GOSSARD RONALD F KITFOX IV - Registry model: [Gossard Ronald F KITFOX IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/gossard-ronald-f-kitfox-iv) (registry code 05618TR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1638 - Airframe hours: 79 - Engines: Bombardier Rotax 583UL DCDI 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 16, 2008, 9 hours before - Departed: EDE, Edenton, NC - Destination: FFA, Kill Devil Hill, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 8, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 330 total, 32 in this make and model, 280 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: ECG, 5 nm away ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73850. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 804 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321806&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Main Wreckage (Pilot-provided digital photo) (item 2, .PDF, 406 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321808&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Pilot-provided%20digital%20photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Wreckage during recovery (Pilot-provided digital photo) (item 3, .PDF, 307 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321809&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Wreckage%20during%20recovery%20(Pilot-provided%20digital%20photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Engine muffler with exhaust pipe attachment point weld surface (NTSB digital photo) (item 4, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321810&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Engine%20muffler%20with%20exhaust%20pipe%20attachment%20point%20weld%20surface%20(NTSB%20digital%20photo)-Master.PDF - Reports from Local Agencies - NC Highway Patrol Report (item 5, .PDF, 210 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321811&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Local%20Agencies%20-%20NC%20Highway%20Patrol%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.