N82QU

On April 16, 1994, at 1400 Pacific daylight time, a Kitfox III, N82QU, experienced a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from a private airstrip near Yelm, Washington. The pilot initiated a forced landing to an open field. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a fence before coming to rest. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The local pleasure flight had originated from Yelm.

The pilot reported that after the loss of engine power, he made a turn to the right to return to the airstrip. The airplane was unable to make it to the airstrip and the pilot initiated a forced landing to an open field. The airplane landed hard and rolled through a barb wire fence before coming to rest.

The pilot stated that he was not aware of structural damage at the time of the occurrence and did not report the accident. A Sheriff's Department Field Investigation Report was mailed to the Federal Aviation Administration, Renton, Washington, Flight Standards District Office on June 23, 1994. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector made contact with the pilot, who had since repaired the airplane. As a result of this conversation, it was found that the airplane had sustained structural damage. The accident was reported on June 29, 1994.

The pilot reported that the engine lost power due to a kink in a flexible automotive fuel line. As a result of this kinked fuel line, the engine was starved of fuel.