# NTSB SEA07LA245: Fitt Kitfox, N96KL, Diamond Springs, CA, August 30, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 30, 2007, 06:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Diamond Springs, CA - Coordinates: 38.686111, -120.876388 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6861&lon=-120.8764&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Rotax Engines, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66550 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA245 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66550/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA245 ## Probable cause Oil starvation during climb due to an unidentified piece of plastic material blocking an oil supply tube and the pilot's inadequate maintenance of the lubricating system. Contributing to the accident was the rough terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb - to cruise - fluid,oil - starvation (cause) - maintenance - inadequate, owner/builder (cause) - lubricating system - blocked(partial) (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis After takeoff and during the initial climb the pilot observed a higher than normal engine temperature, followed by a zero oil pressure reading. Although the engine continued to run without interruption, the pilot elected to make a precautionary landing in a field clearing, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. The oil tank was disassembled during a post-accident examination of the engine and a foreign object, composed of a plastic material, was found plugged in the pickup portion of the oil supply tube. The pilot said that he had performed an engine oil change 5 days prior to the accident, and that during the oil change, he had disassembled and then reassembled the oil tank. The pilot reported that he did not know what the foreign object was or how it came to be lodged in the oil supply tube. ## Factual narrative On August 30, 2007, approximately 0630 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Fitt Kitfox airplane, N96KL, sustained substantial damage after impacting terrain following a precautionary landing near Diamond Springs, California. The private pilot and his sole passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight, which was being operated in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. A flight plan was not filed. The flight departed the Cameron Airpark (O61), Cameron Park, California, about 0620, and was en route to Homedale, Idaho. According to the pilot on initial climb "...the engine temps were slightly higher than normal and [I] shallowed the climb, continuing to monitor the instruments. After about 5 to 10 minutes I observed the oil pressure gauge drop to near zero, then to zero." The pilot stated that he thought his altitude at the time was close to 3,000 feet when he elected to make a precautionary landing, due to what he felt "...was the high probability of the engine quitting." The pilot reported that he located a large open area and began to circle to lose altitude; the landing site was located about 8 nautical miles east of the departure airport. The pilot stated that after committing to land, "...I found himself a bit too close to the edge of the clearing, so I attempted to put [the airplane] on the ground with a nose high, power on final descent." During the landing sequence the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, and both wings. The airplane came to rest in an upright position, and there was no fire. A post-accident examination of the airplane's engine revealed that upon disassembly of the oil tank, a foreign object composed of a plastic material was observed plugged in the pickup portion of the oil supply tube. An examination of the foreign object after its removal from the oil supply tube failed to reveal its identity or origin. The pilot reported that he had performed an engine oil change 5 days prior to the accident, and that during the oil change he disassembled and then reassembled the oil tank, but did not know what the foreign object was, or where it came from. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N96KL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N96KL-2015-05-08), registration cancelled 2015-05-08, S/N CCU-008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Fitt Kitfox - Registry model: [Fitt Lowell C KITFOX](https://openairdocs.org/model/fitt-lowell-c-kitfox) (registry code 05604F4) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CCU-008 - Airframe hours: 905 - Engines: Rotax 912 UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lowell C Fitt - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 1, 2007, 905 hours before - Departed: O61, Cameron Park, CA - Destination: S66, Homedale, ID ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 1,060 total, 900 in this make and model, 1,040 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F ## 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 20070830020499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070830020499A), Aug 30, 2007: Amtr KITFOX, Placerville, CA, Destroyed. (-23) N96KL departed cameron airpark airport at approximately 0615 hrs on 8/30/07 for a flight to Placerville airport. A few minutes after departing cameron… 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.