# NTSB SEA99LA071: Ben Travis Kitfox IV, N149BT, Carnation, WA, May 25, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 24, 1999, 17:05 local (May 25, 1999, 00:05 UTC) - Place: Carnation, WA - Coordinates: 47.639148, -121.890373 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6391&lon=-121.8904&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46449 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA99LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46449/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA071 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power due to a cracked engine impulse line, which disabled the fuel pump. A factor was the intentional ground loop by the pilot. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fuel system,line - cracked (cause) - fuel system,pump - disabled - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis While in a cruise flight configuration the aircraft's engine started to lose power and eventually quit. The pilot executed a forced landing in a crowned hay field. Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced, momentarily became airborne, then touched down a second time. In an effort to stop, the pilot intentionally ground-looped the aircraft. The aircraft came to rest in a irrigation canal that paralleled the hay field. The aircraft's main landing gear and both wings were substantially damaged. A post accident inspection of the engine revealed a large crack in the impulse line running from the engine's crankcase to the pulse fuel pump. A technical representative from Rotax Engines stated that a breech of this type in the impulse line would result in a failure of the pulse fuel pump. ## Factual narrative On May 24, 1999, about 1705 Pacific daylight time, a Travis Kitfox, N149BT, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged during an off-airport forced landing following a sudden loss of engine power. The accident occurred approximately one mile northeast of Carnation, Washington. The private pilot and his passenger were uninjured. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14CFR91 personal/pleasure flight. The flight originated from Sequim Valley airport, Sequim, Washington, approximately 1405 PDT. The pilot reported that while in a cruise flight configuration the engine started to lose power and eventually quit. The pilot executed a forced landing in a crowned hay field. Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced, momentarily became airborne, then touched down a second time. In an effort to stop, the pilot intentionally ground- looped the aircraft. The aircraft came to rest in a irrigation canal that paralleled the hay field. The aircraft's main landing gear and both wings were substantially damaged. The pilot stated that a post accident inspection of the engine revealed a large crack in the impulse line running from the engine's crankcase to the pulse fuel pump. A conversation with a technical representative from Rotax Engines revealed that a breech of this type in the impulse line would result in a failure of the pulse fuel pump. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N149BT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N149BT), registered now, S/N 1499, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ben Travis KITFOX IV - Registry model: [Travis Ben KITFOX IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/travis-ben-kitfox-iv) (registry code 95708CK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1499 - Airframe hours: 727 - Engines: Rotax 582, 2 STROKE 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Benjamin M. Travis - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 30, 1998, 663 hours before - Departed: WN41, SEQUIM, WA - Destination: WA38, MONROE, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 1,085 total, 715 in this make and model, 1,085 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19990524005579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990524005579A), May 24, 1999: Amtr KITFOXIV, Carnation, WA, Substantial damage. Acft experienced engine failure and crashed, other circumstances are unknown. (-23) departed sequim, WA., overflew pae and snoqualmie falls returning to… 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.