# NTSB ERA17LA314: Rudder Dwight K Kitfox IV 1200 Spdst, N16KR, Raymond, MS, September 5, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 5, 2017, 18:35 local (23:35 UTC) - Place: Raymond, MS - Coordinates: 32.174999, -90.482498 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1750&lon=-90.4825&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 95965 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA314 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95965/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95965 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA314 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during initial climb for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Rudder Dwight K KITFOX IV 1200 SPDST, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05624RR), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Rudder Dwight K KITFOX IV 1200 SPDST, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05624RR), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Rudder Dwight K KITFOX IV 1200 SPDST, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05624RR), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that, after takeoff, the engine lost partial power at an altitude about 250 ft above ground level. He attempted to restore power by adjusting the throttle but was unsuccessful. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost all power and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a log and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Postaccident examination and test run of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal operation. Atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to light carburetor icing at cruise or descent power; however, the airplane was operating at takeoff power at the time of the power loss. Thus, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative On September 5, 2017, about 1835 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Kitfox IV 1200 Speedster, N16KR, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Raymond, Mississippi. The sport pilot was not injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for local flight that departed a private airport about 1830. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, during the initial climb at an altitude of about 250 ft, the engine lost partial power. He attempted to restore power by adjusting the throttle and was unsuccessful. A few seconds later the engine lost all power. He then performed a successful forced landing to a field. During the landing rollout, the airplane struck a log and flipped over. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing, outboard of the wing strut, and buckling of the fuselage about midway between the rear window and the vertical stabilizer. During the examination, no mechanical discrepancies were noted with the airframe or engine that would have prevented normal operation. In addition, there were no anomalies noted with the fuel in the airplane and there was no debris in the fuel filter. Following the examination, the engine was started and responded to multiple throttle inputs without anomaly. According to the airplane maintenance logbook, the most recent condition inspection was performed August 22, 2017, about 3 flight hours prior to the accident. At that time, the floats were replaced in both carburetors. The last maintenance entry, dated September 1, 2017, read "replaced fuel line at fuel cut off valve." At 1835, the weather reported at John Bell Williams Airport (JVW), Raymond, Mississippi, about 9 miles north of the accident site, included a temperature of 29°C and a dew point 26°C. The calculated relative humidity at this temperature and dewpoint was about 84 percent. Review of the icing probability chart contained within Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 revealed the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were "conducive to light icing at cruise or descent power." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16KR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16KR-2025-03-07), registration cancelled 2025-03-07, S/N LBS084, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RUDDER DWIGHT K KITFOX IV 1200 SPDST - Registry model: [Rudder Dwight K KITFOX IV 1200 SPDST](https://openairdocs.org/model/rudder-dwight-k-kitfox-iv-1200-spdst) (registry code 05624RR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: LBS084 - Year built: 1994 - Airframe hours: 607 - Engines: Rotax 912 UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 22, 2017, 3 hours before - Departed: PVT, Raymond, MS - Destination: PVT, Raymond, MS - Airport: PVT, Private - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 10, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,100 total, 176 in this make and model, 2,100 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: JVW, 9 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 20170905020719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170905020719A), Sep 5, 2017: Rudder Dwight K KITFOX IV 1200 SPDST, Raymond, MS, Substantial damage. Pilot reported that around 6:30 pm, on September 05, 2017 aircraft registration number N16KR lost engine power at about 250 ft on climb out from his home field… ## Other investigations on N16KR (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 CEN24LA363](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA363), Sep 21, 2024: Kitfox IV 1200 Spdst (N16KR), Cleburne, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95965. 33.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 8.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10038590&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01%206120_ERA17LA314_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 466 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10041146&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-02%20PIC_statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA inspector (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10039277&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-03%20MFR%20FAA%20Inspector_17LA314-Rel.pdf - Excerpt from airplane maintenance logbook (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 23.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10038889&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03-01%20Excerpt%20from%20Maintenance%20Logbook_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 5 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10038503&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-01-%20photo%20array_17LA314-Rel.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.