Pipistrel Lsa SINUS N413EK

Summary

On 13 April 2023 at about 17:00 local time, a Pipistrel Lsa SINUS registered N413EK was involved in an accident near Kingsford, Michigan, 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

13 April 2023 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Kingsford, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Ford Airport (IMT)

Coordinates

45.8184, -88.1146

Aircraft

Pipistrel Lsa SINUS

Registration

N413EK

Category

Airplane

Year built

2020

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Menominee

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN23LA165

Nobody was injured.

The failure of maintenance personnel to properly secure the left carburetor bowl cover, which resulted in an engine fire before takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated the engine lost power as he increased power for takeoff. The engine could not be restarted, and the airplane was pushed off the runway onto a taxiway. The pilot allowed the engine to cool and then restarted the engine. The engine ran smoothly for about one minute. When engine power was increased above 4,000 rpm, the engine lost power again. The pilot performed 2 additional engine starts, which also resulted in the engine quitting above 4,000 rpm. The pilot then noticed white smoke emitting from the engine compartment. A fire ensued that resulted in substantial damage to the motorglider. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the right carburetor bowl cover was attached to the carburetor bowl but the carburetor bowl cover retention clip was not in its secure position on the bowl cover. The left carburetor bowl cover was missing and was not recovered; it most likely fell out of the motorglider or was dislodged from the airplane when the fire was being extinguished. An unsecured bowl cover would have allowed fuel to leak onto hot exhaust pipes, resulting in a fire. Neither carburetor had optional carburetor drip trays installed to mitigate the risk of an engine fire from fuel leaking onto the engine exhaust from the carburetors by directing it away from the exhaust and overboard, which may have prevented the accident. Engine logbook entries showed that the carburetor bowl covers were removed during recent maintenance. It is likely that the covers were not properly reinstalled during that maintenance.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.