Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 40 NG accident near Smithfield, North Carolina, March 25, 2022
On March 25, 2022 at about 8:13 pm local time, a 2020 Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 40 NG, registered N471BL, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Smithfield, North Carolina (Johnston Regional Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Maintenance personnel’s failure to set the correct engine timing after the replacement of a cylinder head and exhaust camshaft before the accident flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 25, 2022 · about 8:13 pm local time
- Place
- Smithfield, North Carolina · Johnston Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 40 NG, built 2020
- Registration
- N471BL · registry record · serial 40.NC111
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight instructor, shortly after takeoff, she heard a “weird” noise coming from the engine and noted a drop in engine rpm. The flight instructor directed the pilot receiving instruction to turn back toward the airport; however, the engine lost all power, and the airplane impacted trees about 1 mile from the departure end of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the engine valvetrain was not timed correctly and that the misalignment resulted in a piston striking a valve. The valve head had separated and fallen into the cylinder, resulting in the total loss of engine power. Examination of the maintenance logbooks revealed that the cylinder head and exhaust camshaft had been replaced the day before the accident flight. Thus, it is likely that the engine’s timing was not set correctly after this maintenance.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Maintenance personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Failure
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Last flight review: March 22, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 895 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 24, 2022; 2.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,888 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Austro E4-A (piston); 895 hours total
- Operator: Blue Line Aviation LLC
The flight
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 4:15 pm from JNX, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KJNX 252015Z AUTO 26008G18KT 10SM BKN100 20/00 A2970 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on October 19, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Log Excerpts | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Memorandum of Record Engine Examination | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Flight Data Recorder - Specialist's Factual REPORT-ERA22LA169 | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Attachment 1 to Flight Data Recorder - Specialist's Factual Report | data file | Download |
| 8 | Engine Control Unit - Specialist's Factual REPORT_ERA22LA169 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Attachment 1 to Engine Control Unit - Specialist's Factual Report | data file | Download |
| 10 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.