# NTSB SEA94LA160: Newgard Kitfox III, N82QU, Yelm, WA, April 16, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 16, 1994, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Yelm, WA - Coordinates: 46.869438, -122.569038 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8694&lon=-122.5690&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41962 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41962/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA160 ## Probable cause FUEL STARVATION DUE TO AN INADEQUATELY INSTALLED FUEL LINE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system,line - flow restricted (cause) - maintenance,installation - inadequate, owner/builder (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence ## Analysis SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD, AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT A FUEL LINE BECAME KINKED AND STARVED THE ENGINE OF FUEL. ## Factual narrative On April 16, 1994, at 1400 Pacific daylight time, a Kitfox III, N82QU, experienced a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from a private airstrip near Yelm, Washington. The pilot initiated a forced landing to an open field. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a fence before coming to rest. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The local pleasure flight had originated from Yelm. The pilot reported that after the loss of engine power, he made a turn to the right to return to the airstrip. The airplane was unable to make it to the airstrip and the pilot initiated a forced landing to an open field. The airplane landed hard and rolled through a barb wire fence before coming to rest. The pilot stated that he was not aware of structural damage at the time of the occurrence and did not report the accident. A Sheriff's Department Field Investigation Report was mailed to the Federal Aviation Administration, Renton, Washington, Flight Standards District Office on June 23, 1994. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector made contact with the pilot, who had since repaired the airplane. As a result of this conversation, it was found that the airplane had sustained structural damage. The accident was reported on June 29, 1994. The pilot reported that the engine lost power due to a kink in a flexible automotive fuel line. As a result of this kinked fuel line, the engine was starved of fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82QU](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N82QU-2018-03-30), registration cancelled 2018-03-30, S/N 1798, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NEWGARD KITFOX III - Registry model: [Newgard Peter M KITFOX 4-1200](https://openairdocs.org/model/newgard-peter-m-kitfox-4-1200) (registry code 05623NR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1798 - Airframe hours: 43 - Engines: BOMBARDIER ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Newgard, Peter M. - Registered owner: Newgard, Peter M. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 18, 1993, 43 hours before - Destination: WA - Airport: Flying B, runway 31, 2,200 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,500 total, 43 in this make and model, 39 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19940416047389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940416047389A), Apr 16, 1994: Amtrdf KITFOX, Yelm, WA, Substantial damage. Lost power on climbout. Turned back landed short. Struck fence. Automotive fuel line kinked. Engine starved of fuel 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.