Accident Overview
On August 24, 2010, at approximately 0940 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-46-350P, registration N4167A, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing at Greeley-Weld County Airport (GXY), Colorado. The private pilot was the sole occupant and was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The cross-country flight was originating at GXY and was en route to Broomfield (BJC), Colorado.
Events Leading to the Accident
According to the pilot's report, the airplane had been involved in a prior accident. Following repairs, the pilot taxied to a self-service fueling facility and added 84 gallons of fuel to the 20 gallons already in the tanks. He stated that he became distracted and forgot to replace the right tank fuel cap. The pilot then took off from runway 16, with the fuel selector positioned to the right tank and the auxiliary boost pump activated. Approximately 100 feet above the runway, after retracting the landing gear and flaps, the engine lost power.
Forced Landing and Post-Accident Findings
The pilot established a controlled glide back toward the runway but did not have time to lower the landing gear. The airplane touched down wheels-up and slid off the right side of the runway. Post-accident examination revealed that the pressure vessel had been compromised and could not be pressurized. The missing right fuel cap was later found on the taxiway, and no fuel stains were observed on the wing.
Engine Test
On September 2, 2010, a functional test of the engine was conducted at Beegles Aircraft Service in Greeley. The engine was operated at various power settings, including full power, and no anomalies were detected.