# NTSB ERA23LA100: Foutz Robert V Cozy Mark IV, N121, Dublin, VA, December 30, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 30, 2022, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Dublin, VA · On KPSK Airport (Taxiway Alpha) - Coordinates: 37.137336, -80.678479 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1373&lon=-80.6785&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 106533 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106533/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106533 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA100 ## Probable cause A fire of undetermined origin during an attempted engine restart while taxiing. ## 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: [Foutz Robert V COZY MARK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05637LG), [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. - [Taxi-from runway: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Foutz Robert V COZY MARK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=05637LG), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the experimental, amateur-built airplane had completed an hour-long local flight, and he was taxiing the airplane back to his hangar when the engine stopped. The pilot then spent about 5 minutes trying to restart the engine before smoke began to enter the cockpit through a heat duct tunnel. The pilot then turned off the fuel, the master switch, and magnetos and exited the airplane. The pilot reported smoke was coming from the cowling in the rear of the pusher-configured airplane. He then emptied a fire extinguisher into the cowling, and the smoke decreased, but did not stop. Flames eventually ignited the cowling and then spread to the fuselage. The local fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. The fire nearly consumed the fuselage and the inboard portions of both wings. The pilot subsequently disposed of the airplane’s wreckage, and it could not be examined after the accident; therefore, the origin of the fire could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On December 30, 2022, about 1500 eastern standard time, an experimental, amateur-built Cozy Mark IV, N121, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in Dublin, Virginia. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot departed from New River Valley Airport (PSK), Dublin, Virginia for a local flight about 1400, and returned to PSK about an hour later. After landing, he started to taxi to his hangar when the engine stopped. The pilot spent about 5 minutes trying to restart the engine when smoke began to enter the cockpit through a heat duct tunnel. The pilot then turned off the fuel, the master switch, and magnetos and exited the airplane. After he exited, he could see smoke coming from the cowling in the rear of the pusher-configured airplane. He emptied a fire extinguisher into the cowling, and the smoke decreased, but did not stop. He saw no flames. The airport manager and one other airport employee arrived within minutes with another fire extinguisher. Smoke was still coming out of the cowling, and they elected to park their truck at a safe distance and stay safely inside. They did not use their fire extinguisher. Flames eventually ignited the cowling and then spread to the fuselage. After the local fire department extinguished the fire, it was determined that the fire had destroyed 90% of the fuselage, 1 fuel tank and the inboard portions of both wings. The pilot stated that he disposed of the airplane’s wreckage about one week after the accident, so it could not be examined after the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N121](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N121-2023-05-02), registration cancelled 2023-05-02, S/N 1648, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FOUTZ ROBERT V COZY MARK IV - Registry model: [Foutz Robert V COZY MARK IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/foutz-robert-v-cozy-mark-iv) (registry code 05637LG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming YIO-360 EXP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-yio-360-exp) (registry code 41710, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1648 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 139 - Engines: Lycoming YIO-360-EXP14 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 20, 2022 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PSK, New River Valley - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review August 7, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,528 total, 139 in this make and model, 1,528 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft overcast - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KPSK - METAR: METAR KPSK 301955Z AUTO 05003KT 10SM OVC048 15/06 A3019 RMK AO2 T01460063= ## 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 20221230019379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221230019379A), Dec 30, 2022: Foutz Robert V COZY MARK IV, Dublin, VA, Destroyed. After landing during taxi to the hangar the engine stopped on the taxiway. After a brief period trying to restart the engine the pilot noticed smoke in the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 2, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106533. 22.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 20.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18030082&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - wreckage disposal (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18050791&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20Wreckage%20Disposal-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18030057&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Weather information (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18030791&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather%20Information-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.