Accident Details
On August 31, 2015, at approximately 1805 eastern daylight time, a kit-built Thatcher CX4A airplane, registration N443JF, impacted terrain following a loss of engine power. The accident occurred after departing from Buckeye Airport (9OA5) in Hebron, Ohio. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that shortly after takeoff, when the airplane was approximately 50 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot restarted the engine, but the engine again lost power. The airplane descended into a cornfield and came to rest in an upright position.
Examination
Responding FAA inspectors noted that the airplane sustained substantial damage to its fuselage, wings, and right horizontal stabilizer. An examination of the airplane and engine revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The inspector noted that the engine control cables were routed close to the left rudder pedal. The engine's carburetor had recently been changed, and the accident flight was the first flight since that maintenance. However, it could not be determined if the control cables' location played a factor in the loss of engine power.
Weather Conditions
The nearest weather reporting facility was at Newark-Heath Airport in Newark, Ohio. At 1754, it recorded wind from 240° at 4 knots, temperature 82°F, and dew point 68°F. A review of the carburetor icing probability chart from FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 indicated that the airplane was operating in conditions conducive to the formation of serious icing at glide power.