# NTSB WPR12LA182: Mays Kitfox Lite 2, N32122, Cedarville, CA, April 22, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 22, 2012, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Cedarville, CA - Coordinates: 41.598888, -120.094444 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5989&lon=-120.0944&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 83465 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA182 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83465/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83465 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA182 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power during cruise flight due to air in the fuel system. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s incorrect maintenance that did not properly secure the fuel lines. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Mays Glen L KITFOX LITE 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05616OL), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Mays Glen L KITFOX LITE 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md?model=05616OL), [All aircraft, 181 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md) - [Maintenance: installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mays Glen L KITFOX LITE 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md?model=05616OL), [All aircraft, 371 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md) - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Mays Glen L KITFOX LITE 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=05616OL), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Mays Glen L KITFOX LITE 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05616OL), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Mays Glen L KITFOX LITE 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05616OL), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Mays Glen L KITFOX LITE 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05616OL), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot, who did not hold a repairman or mechanic certification, reported that he had been replacing the fuel lines. About 1 hour into the flight, the engine lost power, and the pilot initiated a forced landing in a field. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel lines were secured with tie wraps. The tie wraps secured the lines in an oval shape, which could introduce air into the fuel system and result in a loss of engine power. No additional mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On April 22, 2012, at 1400 Pacific daylight time, a Mays Kitfox Lite 2, nosed over following a forced landing near Cedarville, California. The airline transport pilot, who was operating the airplane as a sport pilot and the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot, who did not hold a repairman certificate for the airplane or a mechanic certificate, reported that he had performed maintenance on the fuel system of the airplane, including the replacement of fuel lines. Approximately one hour into the flight, the engine lost power. The pilot force landed the airplane in a field and it nosed over. Approximately 14 gallons of fuel was onboard at the time of the accident. The last conditional inspection on the airplane was completed October 30, 2010. Examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) representative revealed that the fuel lines were secured with tie wraps. According to a Rotax representative, the tie wraps secured the lines in an oval shape and air can be introduced into the system. No additional mechanical anomalies were identified. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32122](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32122-2018-06-26), registration cancelled 2018-06-26, S/N C0206-0281, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAYS KITFOX LITE 2 - Registry model: [Mays Glen L KITFOX LITE 2](https://openairdocs.org/model/mays-glen-l-kitfox-lite-2) (registry code 05616OL) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: C0206-0281 - Airframe hours: 40 - Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Stuart Benner - Registered owner: Stuart Benner - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 30, 2010, 24 hours before - Departed: O59, Cedarville, CA - Destination: O59, Cedarville, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; seat: left; flight hours: 15,200 total, 40 in this make and model, 15,200 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: AAT, 19 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 20120422007569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120422007569A), Apr 22, 2012: Mays Glen L KITFOX LITE 2, Cedarville, CA, Substantial damage. About one hour into the flight, the fuel pressure began to drop. The pilot turned on the electrical fuel pump and the pressure returned to normal. About five… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 21, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83465. 9.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 667 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368045&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Rotech Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368046&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Rotech%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Airplane at Accident Site (Provided by Police) (item 3, .PDF, 7.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368047&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Airplane%20at%20Accident%20Site%20(Provided%20by%20Police)-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Engine (Provided by FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 704 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368048&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Engine%20(Provided%20by%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3. Fuel Lines on Engine (Provided by FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 624 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368049&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20Fuel%20Lines%20on%20Engine%20(Provided%20by%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 4. Fuel Lines at Airframe (Provided by FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 514 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368050&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20Fuel%20Lines%20at%20Airframe%20(Provided%20by%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.