MIA97LA191

NTSB accident investigation · Sherman Powell Kitfox IV · Concord, NC · June 21, 1997

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 21, 1997, 09:40 local (13:40 UTC)
Place
Concord, NC
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N582KFSherman Powell Kitfox IV
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 7, 1998
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19970621015349A
Case key
38294

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

Failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain directional control and his poor preflight planning preparation for allowing the pilot rated passenger to manipulate the throttle control. Contributing to the accident was the pilots total lack of experience in make and model.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterTakeoff - roll/run
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Lack of total experience in type of aircraftPilot in commandFactor
Preflight planning/preparation - poorPilot in commandCause

Analysis

The pilot-in-command who is a CFI was seated in the right front seat and the airplane owner who was previously tailwheel trained was seated in the left front seat. The PIC had never before the accident flight flown the accident make and model airplane. The airplane owner was required by insurance requirements to receive dual instruction. The owner performed the first takeoff with an uneventful full-stop landing. The second takeoff attempt was performed with the PIC manipulating the flight controls and the owner manipulating the throttle control. During the takeoff roll after the tail was raised the airplane began to yaw to the left. The PIC attempted to correct with right rudder and the airplane subsequently became airborne then touched down first with the right main landing gear followed by the right wing tip. The airplane ground looped and came to rest upright. The PIC stated that after the airplane came to rest the throttle was fully open. He further stated that the accident would not have occurred if he was manipulating the throttle control.

Factual narrative

On June 21, 1997, about 0940 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Kitfox IV, N582KF, registered to a private individual, experienced a loss of control during takeoff from the Concord Regional Airport, Concord, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot and private-rated passenger were not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The airplane owner was previously trained to fly tailwheel equipped airplanes but his insurance required dual instruction in the make and model. The certified flight instructor (CFI/PIC) who was seated in the right seat stated he had not before the accident flight flown the accident make and model airplane. The airplane owner stated that he performed the first takeoff, remained in the traffic pattern and performed a full-top landing. During the second takeoff the CFI/PIC was manipulating the flight controls and at this request, the dual student was manipulating the throttle control. Power was applied to takeoff and the airplane began rolling down the runway centerline. After the tail was raised the airplane yawed to the left then became airborne momentarily. The CFI/PIC applied right rudder to correct but the airplane then touched down first on the right main landing gear and the right wing tip then contacted the runway. The airplane then ground looped and came to rest upright. The CFI/PIC further stated that after the airplane came to rest full throttle was still applied and the accident would not have occurred if he was manipulating all controls.

Aircraft

Registration
N582KF
Reported as
Sherman Powell Kitfox IV
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
1455
Engine
Rotax 582 LC, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Stephen Y. Morgan
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · December 14, 1996 · 15 hours before
Departed
JQF
Airport
JQF · Concord Regional, runway 2, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
25
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Right
Flight hours
800 total · 750 as pilot in command · 190 in the last 90 days · 90 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 2 knots
Visibility
5 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
82 °F, dew point 72 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
CLT, 15 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.