What happened
On June 4, 2016, at approximately 10:32, a Kitfox 4-1200, registration TF-200, was conducting a private flight in the Úlfarsárdal area, north of Reykjavík, when the engine lost power and ceased operation. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in a field near a farm in the valley. During the landing sequence, a fence wire became entangled in the aircraft's right main wheel, causing the aircraft to capsize onto its back.
The aircraft sustained considerable damage, and while the pilot escaped without injury, the passenger sustained a head injury.
The investigation
The RNSA investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the engine and the recent maintenance history of the aircraft. It was established that approximately two months prior to the accident, the fuel lines had been replaced. Additionally, the aircraft's wings had been removed one day before the flight to facilitate storage in a small hangar, a process that requires careful handling of various connections, including pitot tubes, aileron linkages, and fuel and vent lines passing through the wing root.
Findings
Investigation of the wreckage revealed that a fuel line leading from the right wing tank had been pinched at the wing root due to improper reinstallation. This blockage prevented fuel from flowing from the right tank to the engine. Although the right fuel valve was open, the left valve was closed, meaning the engine was relying solely on the small amount of fuel available in the gravity-fed collector tank. After approximately 40 minutes of flight, the fuel in the collector tank was exhausted, leading to the engine failure.