Piper PA-32RT-300T accident near Paulden, Arizona, May 17, 2001
On May 17, 2001 at about 1:30 am local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, registered N22467, was substantially damaged in an accident near Paulden, Arizona. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Catastropic engine failure due to oil depletetion caused by an oil filter gasket failure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 2001 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Paulden, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300T · all PA-32RT-300Ts on the register
- Registration
- N22467 · registry record · serial 32R-7887263
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
En route at 13,500 feet mean sea level, the airplane experienced engine vibrations that subsequently led to the pilot shutting the engine down and performing an off-airport landing. During the forced landing roll, the airplane hit brush hidden rocks. An on-scene examination revealed engine oil covering the bottom of the airplane. A post accident examination of the engine revealed a catastrophic internal failure had occurred. Further examination revealed an oil filter gasket was pinched and extruded around the oil filter base plate, allowing engine oil to escape. On August 30, 2000, Textron Lycoming issued Mandatory Service Bulletin (SB) MSB-543A for the replacement of oil filter converter plate gaskets. Time of compliance with the SB, initially, was before further flight and each 50 hours thereafter. On September 5, 2000, the FAA issued Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD 2000-18-53 to mandate compliance with SB, MSB-543A. The AD is sent to maintenance facilities and all registered airplane owners with this engine model. On October 4, 2000, Revision 1) was issued to SB543A, it provided an alternate means of compliance (AMOC). The revision provided clarification of affected engines, elimination of gasket p/n LW-13388, and eliminated the requirement to replace the gasket at each 50 hours of flight. The revision also provided for marking the converter plate by Vibropeening the numbers 543 onto a designated location of the plate. The accident plate was not marked. The last documented annual inspection occurred on July 27, 2000, at 2,418.9 total hours, with 235.9 since engine major overhaul. The entry states that "A.D's checked through 2000-15." At the time of the accident the FAA Aircraft Registration database in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, listed the registration as "Sale Reported" and no other information. The application for registration was clocked into the registration branch on April 9, 2001, and the application was dated March 5, 2001. The certificate of registration was issued July 24, 2001. According to registration information, an application from "A Limited Liability Corporation (LLC)" applicant requires additional information about the organization and principals, and requires additional time to process. No Emergency Airworthiness Directive was sent to any registered owner or applicant of this airplane.
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: 966 hours in all; 831 in this make and model; 71 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 850 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 16, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,628 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 27, 2000; 209 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Avco Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L15 Henderson NV
- Destination: SEZ Sedona AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N22467 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.