# Accident 20030616016879A: Amtr ZODIAC, Thomson, GA, June 16, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 16, 2003, 09:20 local time
- Place: Thomson, GA
- Airport: Thomson-Mcduffie County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.5297° N, 82.5167° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5297&lon=-82.5167&mi=10
- Aircraft: N721PT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N721PT-2005-11-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Polstra Philip ZODIAC CH 601 HDS (registry code 0560300, https://openairdocs.org/model/polstra-philip-zodiac-ch-601-hds) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR ZODIAC
- Reported engine: AMTR EA81
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,100 total, 79 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL03LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA106) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030616016879A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JUNE 16, 2003, AT APPROXIMATELY 9:20 AM EDT, A POLSTRA ZODIAC CH 601 HDS EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT, N721PT, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY THE PRIVATE OWNER, COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN, TREE STUMPS, AND DEBRIS DURING A FORCED LANDING IN A WOODED CLEAR CUT AREA FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER APPROXIMATELY 6 NAUTICAL MILES WEST OF THE THOMSON-MCDUFFIE COUNTY AIRPORT, THOMSON, GEORGIA, AT COORDINATES N33 32 603, W082 37 985. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91, WITH NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS NOT INJURED, HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED COBB COUNTY MCCOLLUM FIELD IN MARIETTA, GEORGIA AT APPROXIMATELY 8:15 AM. THE FLIGHT WAS ENROUTE TO THOMSON-MCDUFFIE COUNTY AIRPORT, CRUISING AT 3,500 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL WHEN APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION THE PILOT STATED THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND MAKE A TAPPING NOISE BEFORE STOPPING. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART AND AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE.

## 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 ATL03LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA106), Jun 16, 2003: Polstra Zodiac CH 601 HDS (N721PT), Thomson, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to the fatigue fracture of the No. 3 cylinder intake valve, which resulted in a forced landing to rough terrain and subsequent collision with small trees and a tree…

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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