Aircraft Mfg & Dev. Co. (Amd) CH-2000 accident near Jean, Nevada, December 17, 2004
On December 17, 2004 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Aircraft Mfg & Dev. Co. (Amd) CH-2000, registered N285AM, suffered minor damage in an accident near Jean, Nevada (Jean Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an in-flight separation of the left cockpit door due to the failure of the hinges from repeated exposure to wind or propeller slip stream forces while in the open position. The hinge failures were the ultimate result of the failure of persons unknown to follow the procedures/directives in the airplane flight manual.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 17, 2004 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Jean, Nevada · Jean Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aircraft Mfg & Dev. Co. (Amd) CH-2000
- Registration
- N285AM · registry record · serial 20-1046
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane's clamshell canopy door departed the airframe and struck the pilot's shoulder, while in a banking maneuver. As the pilot initiated a 30-degree turn to the left, the airplane's left canopy door suddenly became ajar, and he experienced difficulty flying the airplane. He attempted to regain control of the airplane, and about 2 to 3 seconds later, the door canopy separated completely from the airframe. After detaching, it struck the pilot's left shoulder, and then impacted the side of the fuselage; he landed at the airport without further incident. After egressing the cockpit, both pilots noted that the canopy latching mechanism was still in the locked position, affixed to the airframe. After several doctor's visits, the pilot was determined to have suffered tendon damage to his left shoulder. Technical examination of the airplane disclosed that the upper aft hinge of the canopy door failed first, followed by the forward hinge and a bolt attaching the bottom latch to the frame. The hinge had apparently undergone stress from the door remaining open during windy conditions or while the propeller was under power over an undetermined number of prior flights. The airplane's flight manual indicates in several locations that the door is to remain closed during such conditions.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,475 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 21,500 as pilot in command; 14,570 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 176 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 141 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,690 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 0L7 Jean NV at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.50 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from LAS, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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 N285AM 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.