SEA04LA120

NTSB accident investigation · Sheppard Kitfox IV · Rigby, ID · June 29, 2004

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 29, 2004, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
Place
Rigby, ID
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N316RSheppard Kitfox IV
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 24, 2005
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA-FSDO
FAA report
20040629012569A
Case key
59534

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 to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Factors include muddy terrain.

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/waterLanding
Directional control - not obtained/maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll
Terrain condition - muddyFactor
Nose downLanding - roll

Analysis

The first pilot reported that the second pilot was checking him out in type. He stated the second pilot completed the first landing on runway 19. Following the successful landing the first pilot attempted a landing on the same runway. He stated that shortly after touchdown, during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right. The first pilot applied brakes and corrective action, however, the airplane continued to track to the right. The airplane eventually exited the runway, encountered soft muddy terrain and nosed down.

Factual narrative

On June 29, 2004, about 0830 mountain daylight time, a Sheppard Kitfox IV airplane, N316R, sustained substantial damage while landing at Rigby-Jefferson County Airport, Rigby, Idaho. The airplane was operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The first pilot, an airline transport pilot seated in the right seat, and the second pilot, a private pilot seated in the left seat, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The flight originated at Rigby-Jefferson at 0800.

During a post-accident telephone conversation with a representative from the National Transportation Safety Board (IIC), the first pilot reported that the second pilot was checking him out in type. He stated the second pilot completed the first landing on runway 19. Following the successful landing, the first pilot attempted a landing on the same runway. He stated that shortly after touchdown, during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right. The first pilot applied brakes and corrective action, however, the airplane continued to track to the right. The airplane eventually exited the runway, encountered soft muddy terrain and nosed down.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and wing lift strut. Damage was also noted to the left landing gear wheel assembly (outer rim bead) and landing gear attach bracket. The left-hand tire separated from the wheel assembly. The left-hand forward gear bracket bolt (AN-5-20A) was found in its installed position. The first pilot reported that the associated washer and nut were later located on the runway, right of the runway centerline, between the point of touchdown and where the airplane came to rest.

Thread shear and stripping was noted to the nut, and remnants of the threads were found on the bolt grip.

Aircraft

Registration
N316R
Reported as
Sheppard Kitfox IV
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
1561
Airframe hours
370
Engine
Rotax, 80 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Eldon B. Corry
Registered owner
SkyFox, LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Departed
U56 · Rigby, ID
Destination
U56 · Rigby, ID
Airport
U56 · Rigby-Jefferson County, runway 19, 3,500 × 50 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 · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
46
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Last flight review
February 3, 2004
Seat
Right
Flight hours
12,000 total · 50 in this make and model · 11,000 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days
Role
Flight instructor
Age
55
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Last flight review
August 5, 2002
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,000 total · 800 in this make and model · 20 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
61 °F, dew point 52 °F
Altimeter
30.14 inHg
Observed at
KIDA, 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.