Pilot Debrief

KJELSRUD GARY KITFOX near Powell, WY — 2024-05-10

Final reportWPR24LA148
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Date
2024-05-10
Location
Powell, WY, USA
Aircraft
KJELSRUD GARY KITFOX
Registration
N605GK
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot’s adjustment of the carburetor to an incorrect setting, which resulted in partial loss of engine power during takeoff.

NTSB narrative

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.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff when engine began to sputter.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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