Aircraft Mfg & Dev Co (Amd) CH-2000 N285AM

Summary

On 17 December 2004 at about 18:30 local time, a Aircraft Mfg & Dev Co (Amd) CH-2000 registered N285AM, operated by American Aviation, was involved in an accident near Jean, Nevada, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 December 2004 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Jean, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Jean Airport (0L7)

Coordinates

36.0300, -115.5994

Aircraft

Aircraft Mfg & Dev Co (Amd) CH-2000

Registration

N285AM

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

American Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jean → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX05LA083

1 person was seriously injured.

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.