Pilot Debrief

PFLUGRADT Kitfox near Clatskanie, OR — 2018-03-20

Final reportWPR18LA111
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Date
2018-03-20
Location
Clatskanie, OR, USA
Aircraft
PFLUGRADT Kitfox
Registration
N925DP
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

A partial loss of engine power due to an improperly secured throttle cable set screw.

NTSB narrative

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.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked throttle cable before flight to ensure proper function.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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