# NTSB LAX08LA145: Babcock KR-2, N4276Y, Olympia, WA, May 19, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 18, 2008, 18:45 local (May 19, 2008, 01:45 UTC) - Place: Olympia, WA - Coordinates: 46.969444, -122.902778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9694&lon=-122.9028&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 May 6, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68044 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08LA145 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68044/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA145 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during takeoff due to the carburetor's mixture needle backing out. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Babcock James W KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=05648GC), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Babcock James W KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=05648GC), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Babcock James W KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05648GC), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Babcock James W KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05648GC), [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: [Babcock James W KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05648GC), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Babcock James W KR-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05648GC), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane's engine lost power immediately after becoming airborne. The pilot landed straight ahead on the runway, but landed hard due to the lack of time and altitude for a proper flare. The airplane's left wing was structurally damaged, the firewall was wrinkled, the nose landing gear separated, and the two main landing gear were bent outboard. Postaccident examination of the engine by the pilot revealed that the carburetor's mixture needle had backed out, permitting the mixture to become excessively rich and resulting in a loss of power. ## Factual narrative On May 18, 2008, approximately 1845 Pacific daylight time, a Babcock KR-2 experimental homebuilt airplane, N4276Y, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at Olympia Airport (OLM), Olympia, Washington. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local, personal flight, which was originating at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that immediately after takeoff, the engine began "running rough." The engine lost power and he landed straight ahead on the remaining runway. The pilot stated that due to the lack of time and altitude he landed hard. The airplane's left wing was structurally damaged, the firewall was wrinkled, the nose landing gear separated, and the two main landing gear were bent outboard. Postaccident examination of the engine by the pilot revealed that the carburetor's mixture needle had backed out permitting the mixture to become excessively rich, resulting in a loss of power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4276Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4276Y-2018-01-23), registration cancelled 2018-01-23, S/N 1412, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Babcock KR-2 - Registry model: [Babcock James W KR-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/babcock-james-w-kr-2) (registry code 05648GC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1412 - Airframe hours: 290 - Engines: HAPI VW 1835 60 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William T. Walsh - Registered owner: William T. Walsh - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 14, 2008 - Departed: OLM, Olympia, WA - Destination: OLM, Olympia, WA - Airport: OLM, Olympia Airport, runway 26, 4,157 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 444 total, 60 in this make and model, 395 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: OLM ## 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 20080519835459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080519835459A), May 19, 2008: Amtr KR2, Olney-Noble, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) On 05/19/2008 N4276Y, a KR-2 serial # 1412 [privacy data omitted] was taking off from olympia airport, WA. Engine failed shortly after takeoff (midway on… 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.