# NTSB ERA12LA252: New Kolb Mark III Classic, N528DJ, Deland, FL, March 24, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 24, 2012, 10:15 local (14:15 UTC) - Place: Deland, FL - Coordinates: 29.066944, -81.283889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0669&lon=-81.2839&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83207 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12LA252 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83207/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83207 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA252 ## Probable cause The pilot's lack of preflight planning for potential carburetor icing conditions, and the subsequent flight in those conditions in an airplane not equipped with carburetor heat. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [New Kolb MARK 3 CLASSIC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md?model=05903WY), [All aircraft, 156 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [New Kolb MARK 3 CLASSIC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=05903WY), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [New Kolb MARK 3 CLASSIC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05903WY), [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: [New Kolb MARK 3 CLASSIC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05903WY), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The experimental amateur-built airplane, with a carburetor-equipped engine, was airborne for about 1 hour under clear skies when the pilot attempted to land at the departure airport. While at reduced power, and during a traffic pattern turn from base leg to final, the engine lost power. The pilot deployed the airplane's parachute system, and the airplane settled into trees. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preexisting mechanical anomalies, and an estimated 1 gallon of fuel was found in each fuel tank. A representative of the kit manufacturer examined photographs of the fuel tanks with the fuel remaining and indicated that the amount there was not enough to unport the tanks during a turn. He also noted that if the tanks did unport, there still would have been 3 to 4 minutes of fuel in the lines at cruise power plus additional fuel in the carburetor bowl. Temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power. The pilot did not check carburetor icing probability before the flight, and the engine was not equipped with carburetor heat. ## Factual narrative On March 24, 2012, about 1015 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built New Kolb Aircraft Company Mark III Classic, N528DJ, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees while approaching Deland Municipal Airport (DED), Deland, Florida. The certificated private pilot and the passenger were not injured. The local personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, the airplane departed DED at 0930, and after a local flight, entered the traffic pattern for runway 23. When he rolled the airplane out of the turn from a left base leg to final, the engine sputtered, then quit. The pilot realized that he didn't have enough time for an engine restart, nor would he be able to glide the airplane to the runway, so he activated the airplane's parachute system. The system deployed; and the pilot felt the airplane slow as it descended into the trees. The airplane came to rest nose-down, several feet off the ground. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector noted that the airplane descended into trees just outside the airport perimeter. The airplane sustained damage to the right wing, fuselage and tail. Once recovered and level, the inspector noted about 1 gallon of fuel in each of the two 5-gallon plastic fuel tanks located just aft of the pilot and passenger seats. No evidence of fuel contamination was seen in either fuel tank, which had fuel pickup tubes at the inboard rear corner of each tank, with openings ½ to ¾ inches above the bottom of each tank. The pickup lines were connected via a "tee" fitting, and the single line was connected to the engine. The inspector then attempted to run the Jabiru 2200A engine. During the first attempt, the engine started and developed some power. The engine was then shut down to reconnect two spark plug leads that were observed hanging loose from tree impact. A restart was then attempted; the engine started "immediately and ran smoothly," with subsequent throttle movements of the throttle resulting in "immediate response and acceleration." No preexisting mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane. Photographs of the partially-filled fuel tanks were forwarded to a representative of the kit manufacturer, who stated that the engine should not have lost power due to the amount of fuel remaining. Fuel pick-up was ¼ inch above the bottom of the tank, and with 2 inches of fuel in the bottom of each tank, unporting would require 60 degrees' angle of bank. He also noted that at cruise power, if the tanks had become unported during a turn, there still would have been enough fuel in the lines to last 3 or 4 minutes, plus there would have been additional fuel in the carburetor bowl. Weather, recorded at the airport at 1035, included clear skies, winds from 200 degrees true at 8 knots, temperature 23 degrees C, dew point 19 degrees C. An FAA carburetor icing probability chart indicated "serious icing at glide power." When askedif he had used carburetor heat, the pilot, who was not the builder, did not indicate that he had checked for carburetor icing conditions, but did state that the airplane was not equipped with carburetor heat. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N528DJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N528DJ-2013-05-02), registration cancelled 2013-05-02, S/N M300-2-00026, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NEW KOLB AIRCRAFT CO MARK III CLASSIC - Registry model: [New Kolb MARK 3 CLASSIC](https://openairdocs.org/model/new-kolb-mark-3-classic) (registry code 05903WY) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 2200](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-2200) (registry code 34800, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M300-2-00026 - Airframe hours: 55 - Engines: Jabiru 2200A 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kratina Kevin G - Registered owner: Kratina Kevin G - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 16, 2012, 2 hours before - Departed: DED, Deland, FL - Destination: DED, Deland, FL - Airport: DED, DeLand Municipal, runway 23, 6,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 23, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 434 total, 19 in this make and model, 401 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: DED, 1 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 20120324003909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120324003909A), Mar 24, 2012: New Kolb Aircraft Co MARK 3 CLASSIC, Deland, FL, Substantial damage. The plt rptd that he was returning to land on rwy 23, after a one hour local flight. As he completed a left turn from base to final, the engine sputtered then… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 30, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83207. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 448 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382299&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Factual Observations (item 2, .PDF, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382305&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Factual%20Observations-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record (item 3, .PDF, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382303&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Fuel Tank Set-Up (Courtesy FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 238 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382300&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Fuel%20Tank%20Set-Up%20(Courtesy%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Fuel Quantity in Tank (Courtesy FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 167 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382301&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Fuel%20Quantity%20in%20Tank%20(Courtesy%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Fuel Tank with Pick-Up Port (Courtesy FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382302&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%20-%20Fuel%20Tank%20with%20Pick-Up%20Port%20(Courtesy%20FAA)-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. --- 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.