# NTSB MIA05LA015: David Cadorette Fox Model II, N267KF, Vero Beach, FL, October 26, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 26, 2004, 16:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Vero Beach, FL - Coordinates: 27.598611, -80.501945 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5986&lon=-80.5019&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Orlando FSDO-15 - NTSB case key (mKey): 60470 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA05LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60470/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05LA015 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power, for undetermined reasons, resulting in the airplane impacting with a tree and the ground during the subsequent forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with object, emergency landing after takeoff - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated the owner, dual student of the airplane made arrangements to get checked out in the airplane. Before the accident flight, the airplane had an engine run-up and several operational checks without any discrepancies noted. The dual student performed several high speed taxi tests to become familiar with the airplane. The CFI and the dual student departed from the runway and during the initial climb, at about 250 feet above ground, the engine lost power. The CFI allowed the dual student to be in control of the airplane during the forced landing. The airplane landed straight ahead and collided with a tree. The engine on the airplane had a total time of about 2 hours since being overhauled. The FAA inspector who examined the engine stated he found no apparent external broken or missing parts. He was able to rotate the engine by hand and found it to turn freely. The spark plugs were found with normal burn indication. The cylinder bores were checked for scoring and no stress was noted. Clean, properly mixed fuel was found at the time the carburetor bowls were examined. The carburetor fuel screens were free from debris. From these observations he established the engine should have been capable of producing power. ## Factual narrative On October 26, 2004, about 1640 eastern daylight time, an experimental Kitfox II, N267KF, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight lost engine power after takeoff and had a forced landing at the Indian River Aerodrome, Vero Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot-in-command/certified flight instructor (CFI) received minor injuries and the private-rated dual student received serious injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time. The CFI stated the owner, dual student of the airplane made arrangements to get checked out in the airplane. Before the accident flight, the airplane had an engine run-up and several operational checks without any discrepancies noted. The dual student performed several high speed taxi tests to become familiar with the airplane. The CFI and the dual student departed from the runway and during the initial climb, at about 250 feet above ground, the engine lost power. The CFI allowed the dual student to be in control of the airplane during the forced landing. The airplane landed straight ahead and collided with a tree. The engine on the airplane had a total time of about 2 hours since being overhauled. The FAA inspector who examined the engine stated he found no apparent external broken or missing parts. He was able to rotate the engine by hand and found it to turn freely. The spark plugs were found with normal burn indication. The cylinder bores were checked for scoring and no stress was noted. Clean, properly mixed fuel was found at the time the carburetor bowls were examined. The carburetor fuel screens were free from debris. From these observations he established the engine should have been capable of producing power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N267KF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N267KF-2005-08-17), registration cancelled 2005-08-17, S/N 267, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: David Cadorette Fox Model II - Registry model: [Cadorette Dave KITFOX II](https://openairdocs.org/model/cadorette-dave-kitfox-ii) (registry code 05603CG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 267 - Airframe hours: 71 - Engines: Rotax 532 62 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: David Cadorette - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 23, 2004, 0 hours before - Departed: FL74, Vero Beach, FL - Destination: FL74, Vero Beach, FL - Airport: FL74, Indian River Aerodrome, runway 35, 2,600 × 200 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 34; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 1, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 870 total, 790 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 48; injuries: serious; private; seat: left; flight hours: 153 total, 71 in this make and model, 90 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: VRB, 5 nm away 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.