Piper PA-32R-300 incident near Erie, Colorado, May 22, 2000
On May 22, 2000 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N424TP, suffered minor damage in an incident near Erie, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Improper installation of cylinders by unknown maintenance personnel who failed to torque the cylinder stud nuts sufficiently.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2000 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Erie, Colorado · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N424TP · registry record · serial 32R-7780332
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During climb to cruise, on an IFR flight plan, in visual conditions, the engine lost all power approximately 10 minutes after takeoff. A forced landing was made in an open field and no damage was incurred during the landing. Examination of the engine provided evidence the number 2 cylinder had separated from the case and had lodged in the cowl. Detailed examination provided evidence that the cylinder hold down studs had failed and were 'necked-down' at the fracture points. The rod bolts then failed and the piston reversed itself and lodged in the case. No signatures of oil starvation or heat distress were found. Examination at an engine overhaul facility provided evidence that none of the hold down stud nuts on the remaining five cylinders had sufficient torque.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 376 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 345 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,976 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 18, 2000; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TO-540-KIG5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BJC Broomfield CO at 10:50 pm
- Destination: STJ Saint Joseph MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 16,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from BJC, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.