Forced/precautionary landing involving an Amateur Built Kitfox, VH-LEN, Tyabb, Victoria, on 13 October 1993

About 200 feet above the ground on initial climb after take-off, the engine began to run roughly and within seconds it stopped. The pilot attempted a forced landing into the paddock off the end of the airstrip. During the forced landing the aircraft clipped a farm fence and landed heavily. Subsequently, a Civil Aviation Authority Airworthiness Surveyor examined the wrecked aircraft and conducted a successful engine ground run with its ROTAX 532 engine. No defects were found with the aircraft. The nature of the engine failure was consistent with carburettor icing.

Conditions at the time were conducive to carburettor icing; the temperature was 7 degrees Celsius and the dewpoint 5 degrees. A Cessna 152 suffered an engine failure due to carburettor icing while taxiing at the same airport minutes after the accident. This Kitfox was not equipped with carburettor heat. The Civil Aviation Authority is assessing the need for the mandatory installation of a suitable carburettor heat device to the Kitfox.

Significant Factors

The following factors were considered relevant to the development of the accident:

1. The aircraft was not equipped with carburettor heat.

2. The aircraft encountered conditions conducive to carburettor icing.