Labhart KOLB TWINSTAR MK III N83NK

Summary

On 14 November 2004 at about 17:40 local time, a Labhart KOLB TWINSTAR MK III registered N83NK, operated by Norman J. Labhart, was involved in an accident near London, Kentucky, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 November 2004 at 17:40

Classification

Accident

Location

London, Kentucky, United States

Nearest airport

Chestnut Knolls Airport (3KY2)

Coordinates

37.1511, -84.2575

Aircraft

Labhart KOLB TWINSTAR MK III

Registration

N83NK

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Norman J. Labhart

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

London → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC05LA017

1 person died.

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. A factor was the lack of an installed fuel strainer.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was equipped with two semi opaque 5-gallon fuel tanks that simultaneously fed into the engine. The airplane was not equipped with a fuel strainer. Prior to the accident flight, 1 gallon of automobile gasoline was added to each tank, which brought the total amount of fuel on board to approximately 8 gallons. The pilot completed a preflight inspection of the airplane, and departed the airport. After two takeoffs and landings at the airport, the pilot boarded a passenger, and completed another takeoff and landing. While in the traffic pattern for another landing, the engine lost all power. The pilot attempted to glide to the runway, but the airplane impacted up-sloping terrain about 2-3 feet prior to the runway. Examination of the wreckage revealed contamination in the fuel tanks, fuel lines, fuel filter, and carburetor bowls. The engine was subsequently test run with a clean fuel supply, and it ran continuously with no abnormalities noted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.