# NTSB NYC04LA111: Black Kitfox, N917JB, Mount Sterling, KY, April 28, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 28, 2004, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Mount Sterling, KY - Coordinates: 38.063331, -83.916664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0633&lon=-83.9167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59137 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59137/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA111 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to blockage of the fuel filters resulting in fuel starvation. A factor in the accident was the inadequate maintenance inspection. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fuel system,filter - blocked(partial) (cause) - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - starvation - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ground - Gear collapsed, emergency landing ## Analysis After flying for about one hour, the airplane's engine sputtered several times, and then lost power completely. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field, during which the landing gear collapsed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Examination of the engine revealed that the inlet finger screens of both the primary and auxiliary fuel pumps were 80-90 percent blocked with contamination. No additional mechanical deficiencies were noted with the engine. Prior to the accident flight, the airplane had been flown 9-10 times during the previous 14 months. Review of the aircraft and engine logbooks revealed that the last condition inspection was performed on April 12, 2004, and the accident engine was installed in the airplane on that date. One additional entry, for a test flight, was observed in the logbooks since the last inspection. ## Factual narrative On April 28, 2004, at 1415 eastern daylight time, an amateur built Kitfox, N917JB, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a loss of engine power, in Mount Sterling, Kentucky. The certificated private pilot received serious injuries, and the passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight which departed the Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport (MGY), Dayton, Ohio, and was en route to the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), St. Petersburg, Florida. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he performed a preflight inspection on the airplane, and departed MGY about 1345 with full fuel. Approximately an hour later, while en route to PIE, the airplane's engine sputtered several times, and then lost power completely. The pilot flew toward the Mount Sterling-Montgomery County Airport, and when he realized he would not make it to the airport, he chose a field to land the airplane in. During the landing, the landing gear collapsed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The Rotax engine was retained and examined under the supervision of an FAA inspector. The examination revealed that the inlet finger screens of both the primary and auxiliary fuel pumps were 80-90 percent blocked with contamination. No additional mechanical deficiencies were noted with the engine. A download of the Turbo Control Unit (TCU) revealed the engine had accumulated 107.5 hours of operational time. Additionally, the RPM data indicated the engine never produced full power on the flight prior to the accident. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector stated prior to the accident flight, the airplane had only been flown 9-10 times during the previous 14 months. The inspector reviewed the aircraft and engine logbooks and reported that the last condition inspection was performed on April 12, 2004, at which time the accident engine was installed. One additional entry, for a test flight, was observed in the logbooks since the last inspection. Review of the operator manual for the Rotax engine revealed, "Danger! This engine, by its design, is subject to sudden stoppage! Engine stoppage can result in crash landings. Such crash landings can lead to serious bodily injury or death. Never fly the aircraft equipped with this engine at locations, airspeeds, altitudes, or other circumstances from which a successful no-power landing cannot be made, after sudden engine stoppage." The manual further stated, "Warning! This is not a certificated aircraft engine. It has not received any safety or durability testing, and conforms to no aircraft standards. It is for use in experimental, uncertificated aircraft and vehicles only in which an engine failure will not compromise safety. User assumes all risk of use, and acknowledges by his use that he knows this engine is subject to sudden stoppage." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N917JB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N917JB-2013-05-06), registration cancelled 2013-05-06, S/N S98070164, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Black Kitfox - Registry model: [Black John KITFOX](https://openairdocs.org/model/black-john-kitfox) (registry code 05607HO) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: S98070164 - Engines: Rotax 914UL 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John Black - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 1, 2004, 107 hours before - Departed: MGY, Dayton, OH - Destination: PIE, St Petersburg, FL - Airport: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 18, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 780 total, 120 in this make and model, 720 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 14 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: LEX, 35 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 20040428006179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040428006179A), Apr 28, 2004: Amtr KITFOX, Bath County, KY, Substantial damage. (-23) N917JB lost power at 14:55 p.m. on 4/28/2004. Mr. John black, pilot in command and owner, stated that the engine "sputtered" then regained power several… 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.