# NTSB ERA25LA122: Allyn Kaste Rans S-19 (KIT), N258DK, Doylestown, PA, February 10, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 10, 2025, 11:01 local (16:01 UTC) - Place: Doylestown, PA - Coordinates: 40.33305, -75.122338 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3331&lon=-75.1223&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199741 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199741/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199741 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA122 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate maintenance and preflight inspection. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Allyn Kaste RANS S-19 (KIT), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=056308Z), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Allyn Kaste RANS S-19 (KIT), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=056308Z), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Power plant: air intake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057160): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Allyn Kaste RANS S-19 (KIT), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057160/cases.md?model=056308Z), [All aircraft, 50 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057160/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Allyn Kaste RANS S-19 (KIT), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=056308Z), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Allyn Kaste RANS S-19 (KIT), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=056308Z), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Allyn Kaste RANS S-19 (KIT), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=056308Z), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Allyn Kaste RANS S-19 (KIT), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056308Z), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Allyn Kaste RANS S-19 (KIT), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=056308Z), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Allyn Kaste RANS S-19 (KIT), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056308Z), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The day before the accident, the pilot had removed the airplane’s induction air filter but had inadvertently forgotten to reinstall it. On the day of the accident flight, he had also inadvertently forgotten to remove the engine cowling plugs. After takeoff, the pilot turned onto the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern and the engine output immediately reduced to idle power and the engine would not respond to throttle input. The pilot then executed a forced landing in a gravel lot, during which the airplane bounced, the nose landing gear separated, and the airplane came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the wreckage confirmed that the left cowling plug was partially ingested into the end of the intake filter duct, completely obstructing it. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airframe or engine were otherwise found. Based on this information, it is likely that the restricted flow of intake air to the engine resulted in the partial loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N258DK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N258DK), registered now, S/N 011000083, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ALLYN KASTE RANS S-19 (KIT) - Registry model: [Allyn Kaste RANS S-19 (KIT)](https://openairdocs.org/model/allyn-kaste-rans-s-19-kit) (registry code 056308Z) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 011000083 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 1362 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 14, 2024, 1,229 hours before - Destination: N40, Pittstown, NJ - Airport: DYL, Doylestown, runway 06/24, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 80; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review November 15, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,722.8 total, 1,185.8 in this make and model, 2,272.8 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 12.5 in the last 30 days, 0.1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.38 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: DYL - METAR: KDYL 101554Z AUTO 29006KT 10SM BKN040 01/M06 A3038 RMK AO2 SLP295 T00111061 ## 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 20250210000929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250210000929A), Feb 10, 2025: Allyn Kaste RANS S-19 (KIT), Doylestown, PA, Substantial damage. Pilot [privacy data omitted] was uninjured and gave a verbal statement. He said he took off and engine power reduced to near idle about 200 feet AGL. He turned… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199741. 6.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18505602&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18505934&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� inspectors statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18555948&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Inspectors%20statement%20Gilbert-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.