Pipistrel Lsa SRL SINUS accident near Kingsford, Michigan, April 13, 2023
On April 13, 2023 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 2020 Pipistrel Lsa SRL SINUS, registered N413EK, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (into takeoff position) near Kingsford, Michigan (Ford Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of maintenance personnel to properly secure the left carburetor bowl cover, which resulted in an engine fire before takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 2023 · about 5:00 pm local time · cases in 2023
- Place
- Kingsford, Michigan · Ford Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pipistrel Lsa SRL SINUS, built 2020
- Registration
- N413EK · registry record · serial 1025 SFNM 912 LSA
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during taxi (into takeoff position) defining event
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during taxi (into takeoff position)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Not installed/available other cases naming the engine
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Record › keeping › Aircraft/maintenance logs › Maintenance personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Incorrect service/maintenance other cases naming the engine
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 356 hours in all; 220 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 232 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 309.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 6, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 UL (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: MNM Menominee MI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 am from IMT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 13 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1: Exemplar Carburetor with Secured Carburetor Bowl Retention Clip Position (Source – Rotech Flight Safety Inc.)
Photo 2: Exemplar Carburetor Drip Tray Installation (Source – Rotech Flight Safety Inc.)
Photo 1: Photo of N413EK (Source – NTSB IIC)
Photo 2: Left Side of Engine and Cowl (Source – NTSB IIC)
Photo 3: Right side of Engine and Cowl (Source – NTSB IIC)
Photo 4: Interior View of Bottom Engine Cowl (Source – NTSB IIC)
Photo 5: Overhead View of Engine (Source – NTSB IIC)
Photo 6: Left Side View of Engine (Source – NTSB IIC)
Photo 7: Left Side View of Engine (Source – NTSB IIC)
Photo 8: Overhead View of Left Carburetor (Source – NTSB IIC)
Photo 9: Bottom View of Left Carburetor (Source – NTSB IIC)
Photo 10: Side View of Right Side Carburetor (Source – NTSB IIC)
Photo 11: Right Side Carburetor (Source – NTSB IIC)The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on March 28, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Examination | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Correspondence - Rotec Flight Safety | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Correspondence - Pipistrel | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Airport Video of Aircraft Fire | MOV file | Download |
| 6 | Photo Log | PDF, 11 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Photo Log 2 | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | Engine Logbook | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Cockpit Display Recorded Data Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N413EK on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Rotax 912 UL 134 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Ford Airport · nearest airport
- Menominee Regional · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Michigan 2,107 since 1982 · 230 in the last ten years
- Michigan 7,224 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN23LA165.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.