# NTSB WPR18LA111: Pflugradt Kitfox, N925DP, Clatskanie, OR, March 20, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 20, 2018, 13:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Clatskanie, OR - Coordinates: 46.059791, -123.270965 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0598&lon=-123.2710&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 96921 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18LA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96921/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96921 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA111 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power due to an improperly secured throttle cable set screw. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine controls: power lever](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Pflugradt Douglas P KITFOX SUPERSPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/cases.md?model=056328P), [All aircraft, 95 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/cases.md) - [Maintenance: modification/alteration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Pflugradt Douglas P KITFOX SUPERSPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030/cases.md?model=056328P), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030/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 (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Pflugradt Douglas P KITFOX SUPERSPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=056328P), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Pflugradt Douglas P KITFOX SUPERSPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056328P), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Pflugradt Douglas P KITFOX SUPERSPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056328P), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot of the experimental, amateur-built airplane reported that, while flying about 800 ft above a river during a personal flight, he advanced the throttle to climb then the engine started to lose power. He elected to land on a nearby island, during which the airplane nosed over. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the throttle cable set screw on the aft side of the throttle body arm had backed out of its original position and was no longer securing the throttle cable. As a result, the cable moved freely with no corresponding motion on the throttle body arm. This would have also resulted in the pilot's inability to adjust the engine power from the cockpit throttle control. Maintenance records revealed that the pilot built and installed the throttle body arm about 7 months and 204 flight hours before the accident. In addition, a vernier-style throttle cable was installed about 6 months and 159 flight hours before the accident. It is likely that the set screw was improperly secured during one of the previous maintenance events and came loose during operation, which released its hold on the throttle cable. ## Factual narrative On March 20, 2018, about 1315 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Pflugradt Kitfox Super Sport airplane, N925DP, experienced a partial loss of engine power and collided with terrain near Clatskanie, Oregon. The airline transport pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Pacific City State Airport (PFC), Pacific City, Oregon at 1200 and was destined for Pearson Field Airport (VUO), Vancouver, Washington The pilot reported that he departed from PFC and he followed the coast and Columbia river en route to VUO. About 800 ft above the Columbia river, he advanced the throttle to climb when the engine started to lose power. The pilot elected to land on a nearby treeless island in the river. The airplane landed uneventfully, and during the landing roll, the main wheels sunk into the ground and the airplane nosed over and came to rest on its back. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed that the throttle cable was loose at the throttle body attachment arm. When manipulated, the cable moved freely with no corresponding motion on the throttle body arm. The cable set screw on the aft side of the throttle body arm backed slightly out of its original position and was no longer securing the throttle cable. Review of the maintenance logbooks revealed the the throttle body arm was built by the owner and was installed on the airplane on July 30, 2017, at 1,092.5 hours, which is about 204 hours prior to the accident. In addition, a vernier style throttle cable was installed on August 30, 2017 at 1,137 hours, about 159 hours prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N925DP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N925DP), registered now, S/N KA13063258, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PFLUGRADT Kitfox (Super Spor) - Registry model: [Pflugradt Douglas P KITFOX SUPERSPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/pflugradt-douglas-p-kitfox-supersport) (registry code 056328P) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: KA13063258 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 1296 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 10, 2017, 42 hours before - Departed: PFC, Pacific City, OR - Destination: VUO, Vancouver, WA - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot; last flight review May 8, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 11,873 total, 1,296 in this make and model, 9,901 as pilot in command, 74 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KLS, 20 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 20180320009689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180320009689A), Mar 20, 2018: Pflugradt Douglas P KITFOX SUPERSPORT, Clatskanie, OR, Substantial damage. At approximately 1200 LCL, pilot departed pacific city or enroute pearson field WA. While following columbia river at approx. 800 ft. AGL, pilot advanced power… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 24, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96921. 489 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 295 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466835&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Written Statement - Regarding Engine Examination (item 2, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466836&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Written%20Statement%20-%20Regarding%20Engine%20Examination-Master.PDF - Engine Maintenance Log Entries (item 3, .PDF, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466837&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Maintenance%20Log%20Entries-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.