# Accident 19970408010859A: Amtrsn SKYBOLT, Smithfield, NC, April 8, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 8, 1997, 16:30 local time
- Place: Smithfield, NC
- Airport: Johnston County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.4998° N, 78.3405° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4998&lon=-78.3405&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4TZ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4TZ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cumberland/Cumberland SKYBOLT (registry code 05691JT, https://openairdocs.org/model/cumberland-cumberland-skybolt) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTRSN SKYBOLT
- Reported engine: LYC O540A1D5
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 450 total, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA97LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA123) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970408010859A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

UNAPPROVED WASHER BROKE, RELEASING CRANK WEIGHT, DAMAGING ENGINE. NOSED OVER IN A PLOWED FIELD. NO ORIGIONAL LOGBOOK. (-23) ON APRIL 4, 1997, AT 1630 EDT, A SKYBOLT, N4TZ, REGISTERED TO CURTIS LEE CUMBERLAND, LOST POWER DURING AN APPROACH TO JOHNSTON COUNTY AIRPORT (JNX).  THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD AND TURNED UPSIDE DOWN BEFORE ITCAME TO REST.  THE CERTIFICATED PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED.  HOWERVER, THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, PROPELLER, RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND TAIL SECTION.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA97LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA123), Apr 8, 1997: Cumberland Skybolt (N4TZ), Smithfield, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: Installation by a student mechanic of a counterweight retaining washer that did not meet engine manufacturers specifications resulting in partial separation of the counterweight, failure of the No.5…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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