# NTSB ERA18LA155: Devries WM H Kitfox Sport, N47DV, Taghkanic, NY, May 26, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 26, 2018, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Taghkanic, NY - Coordinates: 42.154998, -73.672225 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1550&lon=-73.6722&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 97357 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18LA155 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97357/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97357 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA155 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## 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: [Devries WM H KITFOX SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05622TP), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Devries WM H KITFOX SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=05622TP), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Devries WM H KITFOX SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05622TP), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Devries WM H KITFOX SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05622TP), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Devries WM H KITFOX SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05622TP), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while in cruise flight at an altitude of 1,500 ft above ground level, the experimental, amateur-built airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. He conducted a forced landing to a field, during which the landing gear separated, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Although the weather conditions in the area of the accident site were conducive to the formation of carburetor ice at cruise power settings, based on the available information, it could not be determined if carburetor icing played a role in the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On May 26, 2018, about 1230 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Kitfox Sport airplane, N47DV, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Taghkanic, New York. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was in cruise flight at an altitude of 1,500 ft above ground level enroute to his home airport when the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. He selected a cow pasture as an emergency landing area; during the landing roll, the landing gear separated from the fuselage and the airplane "spun 180 degrees" before coming to a stop. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Further examination revealed that 16 gallons of fuel remained in the fuel tanks. Fuel samples taken from both wing fuel tanks and the firewall strainer revealed no signs of water or debris contamination. Examination of the engine ignition system and the valvetrain did not reveal any preimpact anomalies. The propeller was rotated and no resistance or binding was noted within the engine. The atmospheric conditions present in the area of the accident site around the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of carburetor icing at both cruise and glide engine power settings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47DV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47DV), registered now, S/N SP0206-005, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DEVRIES WM H KITFOX SPORT (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Devries WM H KITFOX SPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/devries-wm-h-kitfox-sport) (registry code 05622TP) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300a) (registry code 34804, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: SP0206-005 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 670 - Engines: Jabiru 3300A 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 1, 2018 - Departed: POU, POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - Destination: GBR, BARRINGTON, MA - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 13, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 790 total, 670 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 12 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: POU, 37 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 20180526005989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180526005989A), May 26, 2018: Devries Wm H KITFOX SPORT, Taghkanic, NY, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed poughkeepsie, NY (pou) enroute to great barrington, ma (gbr). During cruise, engine sputtered and quit. Pilot performed emergency landing in… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 26, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97357. 12.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 6.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9105515&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%206120%20LA155_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA memorandum of record (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9106063&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20FAA%20examination%20summary%20%20LA155-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9108549&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N47DV%20Logbook%20page%20excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather reports and records (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9109203&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather%20Observations%20LA155-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 819 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9108778&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array%20LA155-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.