# NTSB LAX03LA211: Pieterse Kitfox 2, N164JR, Corona, CA, June 26, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 26, 2003, 11:10 local (18:10 UTC) - Place: Corona, CA - Coordinates: 33.868888, -117.518058 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8689&lon=-117.5181&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57332 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA211 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57332/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA211 ## Probable cause The improper design and installation of the airplane's fuel system by the builder of the experimental airplane, which resulted in fuel starvation and a loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - aircraft/equipment inadequate, owner/builder (cause) - maintenance,installation - improper, owner/builder (cause) - fuel system - inadequate (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The private pilot reported a loss of engine power in the homebuilt experimental airplane when he reduced power and lowered the nose to descend for a landing. He was unable to restore engine power, and made an emergency landing in a dirt field. The airplane came to rest inverted, sustaining structural damage. The owner/pilot reported that the original builder of the airplane had installed the fuel pick up in the wing tanks so that when flying with half tanks in a nose down attitude, fuel was undeliverable to the engine. The owner/pilot noted he solved the problem by redesigning the fuel system so that the fuel flows into a header tank that has an associated electric fuel pump. ## Factual narrative On June 26, 2003, about 1110 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Pieterse Kitfox 2, N164JR, experienced a loss of engine power and made a forced landing in Corona, California. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal local flight departed Corona Municipal Airport (AJO) Corona, California, about 1105. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 33 degrees 52 minutes north latitude and 117 degrees 31 minutes west longitude. In a telephone interview the pilot related that he had taken off from AJO on a local flight. The pilot said that he was about 2 miles from the airport when the engine started to run rough and then quit. The pilot made a forced landing in a dirt field, and during the rollout the airplane flipped over and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that the right wing had damage to a rib and the left wing had damage to the strut. The airplane was recovered and transported to AJO for further investigation. The owner/pilot reported that the builder had routed the fuel pick up so that when flying in a nose down attitude, and with half tanks, the fuel was undeliverable to the engine. The owner changed the fuel system pick up and added an electric fuel boost pump to prevent a similar occurrence. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N164JR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N164JR), registered now, S/N 268, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Pieterse Kitfox 2 - Registry model: [Pieterse Johan KITFOX 2](https://openairdocs.org/model/pieterse-johan-kitfox-2) (registry code 056090E) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 268 - Airframe hours: 95 - Engines: Rotax 832 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ron Ben-Itzhak - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 29, 2003, 40 hours before - Departed: KAJO, Corona, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review November 22, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 720 total, 50 in this make and model, 620 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 6 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: CNO, 10 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 20030626022309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030626022309A), Jun 26, 2003: Amtr KITFOXII, Corona, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was on pleasure flight. Pilot noticed engine starting to run rough. As he was a distance from any airport pilot started looking for a safe place to… 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.