# NTSB ERA12CA198: Lester Robert E KR-2, N1701L, Boca Raton, FL, March 1, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 1, 2012, 07:45 local (12:45 UTC)
- Place: Boca Raton, FL
- Coordinates: 26.378334, -80.107498 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.3783&lon=-80.1075&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 7, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83000
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA198
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83000/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83000
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA198

## Probable cause

The failure of the airplane’s engine air inlet system resulting in a total loss of engine power.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Nacelles/pylons structure: nacelle/pylon misc structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035420): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Lester Robert E KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035420/cases.md?model=0561131), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035420/cases.md)
- [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000): Personnel issues › Miscellaneous · Owner/builder; cases with it: [Lester Robert E KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000/cases.md?model=0561131), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Lester Robert E KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0561131), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Lester Robert E KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0561131), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he was turning from the downwind to the base leg of the traffic pattern when the airplane’s engine had a total loss of power. The pilot trimmed the airplane for its best glide speed and maneuvered the airplane toward the runway. However, the airplane impacted the airport’s perimeter fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. A postaccident examination revealed that the engine air inlet cowling ducting had separated from its attaching material, and the ducting tube slid into the engine air flow control box, blocking the carburetor’s air inlet.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he was just turning from the downwind to the base leg of the airport’s traffic pattern when the experimental airplane’s engine had a total loss of power. He trimmed the airplane for best glide speed and maneuvered the airplane toward the runway. The airport has a tall perimeter fence, which ran across the approach end of the intended runway. The airplane did not have sufficient altitude to clear the fence and impacted into it resulting in the right wing incurring structural damage before coming to a complete stop. The pilot exited the airplane uninjured. A post wreckage examination revealed that the engine air inlet cowling ducting separated from its attaching material, which caused the ducting tube to slide into the engine air flow control box; blocking the carburetor’s air inlet.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1701L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1701L), registered now, S/N 4176 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LESTER ROBERT E KR-2
- Registry model: [Lester Robert E KR-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/lester-robert-e-kr-2) (registry code 0561131) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4176
- Airframe hours: 259
- Engines: Corvair 2700 CC 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Lester Robert E
- Registered owner: Lester Robert E
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, December 21, 2011
- Departed: BCT, Boca Raton, FL
- Destination: BCT, Boca Raton, FL
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: BCT, Boca Raton Airport, runway 23, 6,276 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 23, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 1,568 total, 260 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: BCT

## 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 20120301003849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120301003849A), Mar 1, 2012: Lester Robert E KR-2, Boca Raton, FL, Substantial damage. The aircraft was on approach to land on runway 23, when it experienced an engine failure and subsequently came to a stop in the fence line short of runway 23.…

## Other investigations on N1701L (1)

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.

- [NTSB ATL05CA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA083), May 17, 2005: Rand Robinson Engineering KR-2 (N1701L), Vienna, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to the owner/pilot mechanic's improper balancing of the modification to engine crankshaft which resulted in an overload failure.

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 7, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83000. 1.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365310&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Reports from Local Agencies: Airport Incident Report. (item 2, .PDF, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365317&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Local%20Agencies%3A%20Airport%20Incident%20Report.-Redacted.PDF
- Miscellaneous: Pilot's Statement to Federal Aviation Administration Inspector. (item 3, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365367&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20Pilot%27s%20Statement%20to%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20Inspector.-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1) View of the Wreckage. Photo Provided by the Boca Raton Airport Authority. (item 4, .PDF, 175 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365312&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201)%20View%20of%20the%20Wreckage.%20Photo%20Provided%20by%20the%20Boca%20Raton%20Airport%20Authority.-Master.PDF
- Photo 2) Side View of the Engine Air Inlet Ducting Inside the Air Flow Control Box. Photo Provided by the Boca Raton Airport Authority. (item 5, .PDF, 174 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365313&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202)%20%20Side%20View%20of%20the%20Engine%20Air%20Inlet%20Ducting%20Inside%20the%20Air%20Flow%20Control%20Box.%20%20Photo%20Provided%20by%20the%20Boca%20Raton%20Airport%20Authority.-Master.PDF
- Photo 3) View of the Engine Air Inlet Ducting Inside the Air Flow Control Box. Photo Provided by the Boca Raton Airport Authority. (item 6, .PDF, 187 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365316&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203)%20View%20of%20the%20Engine%20Air%20Inlet%20Ducting%20Inside%20the%20Air%20Flow%20Control%20Box.%20Photo%20Provided%20by%20the%20Boca%20Raton%20Airport%20Authority.-Master.PDF
- Photo 4) View of the Engine Air Inlet Ducting Size, Which Block the Carburetor Air Inlet. Photo Provided Boca Raton Airport Authority. (item 7, .PDF, 155 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365315&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204)%20View%20of%20the%20Engine%20Air%20Inlet%20Ducting%20Size,%20Which%20Block%20the%20Carburetor%20Air%20Inlet.%20Photo%20Provided%20Boca%20Raton%20Airport%20Authority.-Master.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.

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