Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 20-C1 accident near Englewood, Colorado, May 22, 2013
On May 22, 2013 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 20-C1, registered N571MA, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Englewood, Colorado (Centennial Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The in-flight separation of the engine throttle lever and throttle cable due to maintenance personnel not applying sufficient torque to the self-locking nut or improperly reusing a degraded self-locking nut.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2013 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Centennial Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 20-C1
- Registration
- N571MA · registry record · serial C0271
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on final approach during an instructional flight, the engine became unresponsive to throttle movements. The flight instructor took control of the airplane from the student pilot and made a forced landing, during which the airplane rolled onto soft ground and nosed over to an inverted position. Engine examination revealed that the engine throttle lever and throttle cable had become disconnected and that the bolt connecting these two components was located at the bottom of the engine cowling. A self-locking nut, which normally secures this bolt, was missing and not located. Therefore, it is likely that maintenance personnel did not apply sufficient torque to the nut or improperly reused a degraded self-locking nut, which resulted in the eventual loosening of the nut and the in-flight separation of the engine throttle lever and throttle cable.
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 approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Roll over during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › Power lever › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Understanding/comprehension › Maintenance personnel
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 475 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 146 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 395 as pilot in command; 142 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 9, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 14 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 0 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,360 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 10, 2013
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-240-B (piston); 236 hours total
- Operator: 5280 Flying Club LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KAPA Englewood CO at 5:00 pm
- Destination: KAPA Englewood CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17R, 7,000 ft by 77 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KAPA, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.