20040317004429A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Amtr SKYBOLT · Reno, NV · March 17, 2004

Date: March 17, 2004 · 07:20 local
Place: Reno, NV
Airport: Reno/Stead Airport
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N41BB
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX04LA163
Reported as: Amtr Skybolt
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 190 total49 in this make and model12 in the last 90 days

N41BBRegistration cancelled Feb 21, 2007 · Wallace SKYBOLTS/N 1 · Built 1975 Airframe modelWallace SKYBOLT Engine modelLycoming I0360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) The pilot reported that he was executing an outside loop maneuver. At the bottom of the loop, while inverted at approximately 8,000 feet MSL, the pilot felt a vibration followed by a separation of the left wing from the aircraft. The aircraft continued to disintegrate; however, the pilot was able to release his seat belt and was thrown clear of the aircraft. The pilot deployed his parachute, which opened just prior to his impact with the ground.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS EXECUTING AN OUTSIDE LOOP MANEUVER. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LOOP, WHILE INVERTED AT APPROXIMATELY 8,000 FEET MSL, THE PILOT FELT A VIBRATION FOLLOWED BY A SEPARATION OF THE LEFT WING FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DISINTEGRATE; HOWEVER, THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO RELEASE HIS SEAT BELT AND WAS THROWN CLEAR OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT DEPLOYED HIS PARACHUTE, WHICH OPENED JUST PRIOR TO HIS IMPACT WITH THE GROUND.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX04LA163Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportReno, NVFailure of the left wing spar during an aerobatic maneuver.Mar 17, 2004 · Destroyed