Zwart KIT FOX VIXEN N955F

Summary

On 22 February 1998 at about 21:00 local time, a Zwart KIT FOX VIXEN registered N955F was involved in an accident near Weyers Cave, Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 February 1998 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Weyers Cave, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Shenandoah Valley Arpt (SHD)

Coordinates

38.2797, -78.9202

Aircraft

Zwart KIT FOX VIXEN

Registration

N955F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC98LA068

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the propeller drive train after the pilot/builder installed an improper drive belt.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that a few minutes after departure, he smelled 'hot rubber' and started to return to the airport. After the turn, the drive belt between the engine and propeller failed. When the pilot realized that the airplane could not reach the runway, he elected to perform a forced landing in a field. Upon touchdown, the nose wheel dug in the soft terrain and the airplane nosed over. The investigation revealed the builder/pilot had used a 4-inch wide cog belt between the engine and propeller. The cogs were worn off and would not rotate the propeller. The belt manufacturer recommended that cog belts not be used in aviation applications.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.