# NTSB WPR24LA148: Kjelsrud Gary Kitfox, N605GK, Powell, WY, May 10, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 10, 2024, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Powell, WY · Private Strip - Coordinates: 44, -108 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0000&lon=-108.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 194247 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA148 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194247/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194247 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA148 ## Probable cause The pilot’s adjustment of the carburetor to an incorrect setting, which resulted in partial loss of engine power during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Kjelsrud Gary KITFOX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=056161V), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Kjelsrud Gary KITFOX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md?model=056161V), [All aircraft, 181 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md) - [Maintenance: modification/alteration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Kjelsrud Gary KITFOX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030/cases.md?model=056161V), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Kjelsrud Gary KITFOX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=056161V), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Kjelsrud Gary KITFOX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=056161V), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Kjelsrud Gary KITFOX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056161V), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Kjelsrud Gary KITFOX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056161V), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane was departing from his private dirt strip when the accident occurred. The airplane exhibited a partial loss of engine power when it was about halfway down the runway. The pilot elected to proceed with the takeoff due to an irrigation canal at the end of the runway. The airplane would not gain altitude and subsequently struck two fences before nosing over and coming to rest inverted in a nearby yard. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that one of the two piston-type carburetors had the retaining clip for the jet needle set to the leanest position. The other carburetor was set to the engine manufacturer’s specified position. It is likely that the overly lean setting in one of the carburetors caused the carburetors not to be synchronized, which resulted in the partial loss of engine power during takeoff. According to the pilot, he adjusted the carburetor’s retaining clip to lower the cylinder temperature while he was flying in a different state and did not notice any loss of engine performance. However, this was his first attempted takeoff in Wyoming, that was located at a high elevation. ## Factual narrative On May 10, 2024, about 1030 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Kitfox airplane, N605GK, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Powell, Wyoming. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that while departing from his private dirt strip, about halfway down the runway, the airplane’s engine began to sputter and lost partial power. He confirmed the boost pump was on and proceeded with the takeoff since there was an irrigation canal at the end of the runway. The airplane would not gain altitude and subsequently struck two fences before nosing over and coming to rest inverted in a neighbor’s yard. The right wing sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence. The airframe was not available for examination because it was inadvertently sold. A postaccident examination of the Rotax 582 engine revealed that it was equipped with two piston-type carburetors. On the carburetor near the magneto (MAG carburetor), the retaining clip for the jet needle was noted have been set to the No. 1 position (most lean). On the carburetor near the gear box/propeller (power take-off carburetor), the retaining clip for the jet needle was set to the No. 3 position. The jet needles had 4 positions in which the retaining clip would seat. The No. 1 position was near the top of the needle and was the leanest setting; the subsequent 3 positions were equally spaced below the No. 1 position, ending with the No. 4 position at the lowest position. The No. 3 position of the retaining clip for the jet needle was the position set when manufactured, according to the representative of the engine manufacturer. The Rotax Maintenance Manual specified that, when installing the carburetor, press the needle clip in the same position as recorded. The Maintenance Manual Line for the engine states, “the needle jet and jet needle must only be exchanged by a mechanic with experience on two-stroke engines and in accordance with the Maintenance Manual Heavy.” Furthermore, the Illustrated Parts Catalog for the engine listed the carburetor calibration as needle position 3. Both carburetor pistons slides were observed to have scoring marks consistent with the carburetors not being synchronized. Additionally, the engine’s maintenance manual lists a rough running engine as being caused by incorrect synchronization of the carburetors. According to the pilot, he adjusted the carburetor retaining clip to lower the front cylinder temperature that was running high. The adjustment slightly lowered the cylinder temperature, and he noticed no performance loss while flying multiple flights in Arizona. The takeoff on the accident flight was the first one attempted in Wyoming at an elevation of about 4,400 ft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N605GK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N605GK), registered now, S/N 605, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KJELSRUD GARY KITFOX - Registry model: [Kjelsrud Gary KITFOX](https://openairdocs.org/model/kjelsrud-gary-kitfox) (registry code 056161V) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 605 - Year built: 1990 - Airframe hours: 358.7 - Engines: Rotax 582LC 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 27, 2023 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: N/A, Private grass strip, runway Private Strip, 600 × 300 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 10, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,500 total, 101 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 0.1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.32 inHg - Observed at: KWRL, 3 nm away - METAR: KWRL 101621Z AUTO VRB04KT 10SM SCT022 12/06 A3032 RMK AO2 T01170061 ## 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 20240510012939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240510012939A), May 10, 2024: Kjelsrud Gary KITFOX, Powell, WY, Substantial damage. Kitfox ii was attempting to take off from grass field on private property. Pilot applied full power and lifted off 300 ft into take off roll. Engine made two… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194247. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18108387&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Engine examination report (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 412 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18108194&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA148%20Engine%20Examination%20%20Report-Rel.pdf - Engine manual excerpts (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 606 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18108482&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Manual%20Excerpts-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� pilot (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18652927&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA148%20Memo%20For%20Record-Rel.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.