Pilot Debrief

Bordelon Kitfox IV near Stanton, MN — 2010-06-07

Final reportCEN10CA304
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Date
2010-06-07
Location
Stanton, MN, USA
Airport
KSYN
Aircraft
Bordelon Kitfox IV
Registration
N396BK
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s inadvertent propeller blade pitch change and subsequent loss of forward thrust.

NTSB narrative

The accident occurred during the first flight since the experimental amateur-built airplane had been repaired from a previous accident. The pilot stated that after departure he performed two landings without incident. On the third landing attempt, the in-flight electrically adjustable propeller went into a low/flat pitch while the airplane was on an extended final approach. The pilot stated that the airplane lost forward thrust as result of the flat propeller blade pitch and that he landed short of the turf runway. The airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted; the fuselage and empennage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. He stated that the flat propeller pitch may have been inadvertently set during flight when he mistakenly depressed the propeller pitch selector instead of the intended push-to-talk button. Both buttons were collocated on the control stick.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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