14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, July 22, 2012 in Pickens, SC
Probable Cause Approval Date: 04/23/2014
Aircraft: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR-22, registration: N138CK
Injuries: 4 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
A few minutes after leveling the airplane at a cruise altitude of 9,000 feet mean sea level, the pilot felt the engine slightly vibrate or “wiggle.” The propeller rpm then began to rise rapidly, and the pilot noted an engine oil pressure warning on the primary flight display. After unsuccessfully troubleshooting the engine problems, the pilot secured the engine and declared an emergency. An air traffic controller informed the pilot of an airport 4 miles from his location, and he turned the airplane toward that airport and prepared for an emergency landing. The pilot again unsuccessfully attempted to restart the engine and then resecured it while on the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern. When the pilot turned the airplane toward the base leg of the traffic pattern at 1,200 feet, he added one notch of flaps, at which point, he felt the handling characteristics of the airplane change, and it began to feel “mushy.” He then retracted the flaps, and the condition worsened. As the airplane descended through 1,000 feet, the pilot thought that he had “lost control of the airplane” and decided to activate the airframe emergency parachute. The parachute deployed, and, within seconds, the airplane settled into trees about 2 miles from the airport. The airplane remained suspended in the trees until emergency personnel arrived on scene and rescued the occupants.
After the accident, the presence of oil was noted on the underside of the airplane. After the airplane was recovered from the trees, examination of the oil dipstick revealed small pieces of metal in the engine oil. Examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft was fractured and that the crankcase exhibited varying degrees of fretting and lock-slot elongation on the main bearing supports, which is consistent with the application of insufficient torque on the cylinder through-bolts by maintenance personnel. New cylinders had been installed on the engine 113 hours before the accident. Because the cylinders were loose, the oil supply at the No. 2 main journal was shut off and the crankshaft broke, which resulted in the subsequent loss of oil pressure to the engine.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
A total loss of engine power due to the failure of the crankshaft, which resulted from the application of insufficient torque on the cylinder through-bolts by maintenance personnel.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On July 22, 2012, at 1705 eastern daylight time, N138CK, a Cirrus SR-22, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Pickens, South Carolina. The commercial pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Cobb County Airport-Mc Collum Field (RYY), Atlanta, Georgia, and was destined for Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO), Greensboro, North Carolina. The business flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, he began the day flying the airplane alone from Shelby County Airport (EET), Alabaster, Alabama to Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT), Gulfport, Mississippi, where he picked up 3 passengers. Prior to departure from GPT, the airplane was fueled "to the tabs" and 1 quart of oil was added to the engine. He and the 3 passengers then departed GPT, destined for RYY. As the airplane was descending enroute to RYY, the engine experienced a "brief misfire," which the pilot reported he had experienced in other airplanes before and was not concerned about. The airplane also experienced an ALT 2 failure enroute. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot the problem, without success, and then shed some of the electrical load. He continued to RYY and landed without incident.
The landing at RYY was a planned fuel stop, enroute to the final destination of GSO, where the airplane was based. Prior to departure from RYY, the airplane was fueled with 60 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel, which again filled the tanks "to the tabs." The pilot checked the oil (about 6 1/2 quarts) and examined the engine and underside of the airplane for any abnormal conditions which would have explained the earlier engine misfire. He found no anomalies and proceeded with the departure.
The takeoff from RYY was normal, and as the airplane climbed through an altitude of 800 feet, the pilot noted the oil temperature was "in the green" (about 190 deg) and the airspeed was about 130 knots.
The pilot leveled the airplane at 9,000 feet, at a cruise speed of 165 knots. A few minutes later, the pilot felt a "wiggle," or a slight vibration from the engine. The prop RPM began to rise rapidly and he noted an engine oil pressure warning on the primary flight display (PFD). The pilot disengaged the autopilot, applied full mixture, and turned the fuel pump on. He also assured the magnetos were in the "on" position. The pilot thought he may have had a propeller overspeed condition, so he reduced the throttle; however, the RPMs remained high. He then secured the engine and declared an emergency with Greer Approach Control, with whom he had been communicating. The air traffic controller informed the pilot that Pickens County Airport (LQK) was at his "10:00 and 4 miles," and the pilot turned toward the field and prepared for a forced landing. He noted the RPMs were not decreasing as he pitched the airplane down for the descent (the airspeed was about 110-120 knots). The pilot attempted unsuccessfully to restart the engine, and then re-secured it while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 23 at LQK. He believed he had plenty of airspeed and altitude, when he turned base at 1,200 feet, and added one notch of flaps.
As the pilot added the flaps, he felt the handling characteristics of the airplane change, and it began to feel "mushy." He then retracted the notch of flaps and the condition became worse. As the airplane descended through 1,000 feet, the pilot felt as if he had "lost control of the airplane" and decided to activate the airframe emergency parachute. The parachute deployed and within seconds the airplane settled into the trees. The airplane remained suspended in the trees until emergency personnel arrived on-scene and rescued the occupants.
PILOT INFORMATION
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate and a flight instructor certificate with multiple ratings including: instrument airplane, airplane single-engine land, and multiengine land. His most recent first-class medical certificate was issued on May 1, 2012. The pilot reported 1,800 hours of total flight experience, 350 of which were in the make and model of the accident airplane.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The airplane was manufactured in 2009 and equipped with a Continental IO-550 engine. The following entries were noted in the airplane and engine logbooks:
On April 28, 2010, all six cylinders were removed from the engine and sent to a repair station. According to the work order, maintenance to the cylinders included, "checking the guides and resealing the valves." The cylinders were reinstalled on May 4, 2010, and an operational check revealed no leaks or other anomalies.
The most recent annual inspection was completed on the airframe and engine on September 1, 2011 at a tachometer time of 963 hours. No anomalies were noted during the inspection.
On April 4, 2012, a new crankshaft seal and new cylinders were installed on the engine at a tachometer time of 1,252 hours. According to the logbook entry, an operational check was performed after installation, with no anomalies noted.
The next entry in the logbook was on May 3, 2012. This entry described compression checks on all 6 cylinders with the following values: "1. 78/80; 2. 74/80; 3. 76/80; 4. 77/80; 5. 75/80; 6. 75/80." According to the entry, another operational check was performed with "no leaks noted."
An oil change was performed on July 18, 2012. According to the logbook entry, the oil filter was cut and no metal was noted.
The tachometer time noted at the accident site was 1,365 hours.
WRECKAGE INFORMATION
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the airplane impacted trees about 2 miles from LQK. The airplane remained suspended in the trees during the inspector's examination; however, he did note the presence of oil on the underside of the airplane. After the airplane was recovered from the trees, examination of the oil dipstick revealed approximately 4 quarts of oil in the engine. There were also small pieces of metal noted on the dipstick.
TESTS AND RESEARCH
Recoverable Data Module (RDM) Examination
The airplane was equipped with a Heads Up Technology Recoverable Data Module (RDM) mounted in the empennage, which was intended to record various flight and aircraft parameters. The device was retained after the accident, and forwarded to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory, Washington, D.C., for data recovery.
According to the RDM data, the engine lost power at 1659, and the airplane began a descent immediately after. The CAPS handle was pulled at 1704:55, and the CAPS rocket deployed at the same time. The last data points were recorded at 1705:20
Engine Teardown Inspection
The engine was sent to Teledyne Continental Motors in Mobile, Alabama for a teardown inspection. The inspection revealed the crankshaft was fractured through the number 3 cheek between the number 2 rod journal and the number 2 main journal. The camshaft exhibited mechanical damage and was fractured in two places; forward of the second lobe and at the center of the second main journal. The crankcase exhibited varying degrees of fretting and lock slot elongation on the main bearing supports. The number 2 main bearing support exhibited signs of bearing rotation.
Additionally, low torque values were noted for the cylinder through-bolts.
No indications of fatigue were noted on any of the fractured components (For additional information regarding the engine teardown, see the Continental Motors Teardown Report and the FAA Inspector Teardown Report in the public docket for this accident).
NTSB Identification: ERA12LA473
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, July 22, 2012 in Pickens, SC
Aircraft: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22, registration: N138CK
Injuries: 4 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On July 22, 2012, at 1705 eastern daylight time, N138CK, a Cirrus SR-22, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Pickens, South Carolina. The commercial pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Cobb County Airport-Mc Collum Field (RYY), Atlanta, Georgia, and was destined for Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO), Greensboro, North Carolina. The business flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, he fueled the aircraft "to the tabs" and performed a preflight and run-up inspection prior to takeoff from RYY. No abnormalities were noted during the inspections. The pilot departed, and as the airplane climbed through an altitude of 800 feet, he noted the oil temperature was "in the green" (about 190 deg) and the airspeed was about 130 knots.
A few minutes later, the pilot felt a "wiggle," or a slight vibration from the engine, as the airplane continued to climb. The engine RPMs began to rise rapidly and he noted an engine oil pressure warning on the primary flight display (PFD). The pilot applied full mixture, turned the fuel pump on, and manipulated the throttle. He also assured the magnetos were in the "on" position. The pilot thought he may have had a propeller overspeed condition, so he reduced the throttle; however, the RPMs remained high. He then secured the engine and declared an emergency with Greer Approach Control, with whom he had been communicating. The air traffic controller informed the pilot that Pickens County Airport (LQK) was at his "10:00 and 4 miles," and the pilot turned toward the field and prepared for a forced landing. He noted the RPMs were not decreasing as he pitched the airplane down for the descent (the airspeed was about 110-120 knots). The pilot attempted unsuccessfully to restart the engine, and then re-secured it while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 23 at LQK. He believed he had plenty of airspeed and altitude, when he turned base at 1,200 feet, and added one notch of flaps.
As the pilot added the flaps, he felt the handling characteristics of the airplane change, and it began to feel "mushy." He then retracted the notch of flaps and the condition became worse. As the airplane descended through 1,000 feet, the pilot felt as if he had "lost control of the airplane" and decided to pull the emergency parachute. The parachute deployed and within seconds the airplane settled into the trees. The airplane remained suspended in the trees until emergency personnel arrived on-scene and rescued the occupants.
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the presence of oil on the underside of the airplane. An examination of the engine was planned for a later date after the airplane was recovered from the trees.
FAA IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 138CK Make/Model: SR22 Description: SR-22
Date: 07/22/2012 Time: 2105
Event Type: Incident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
City: PICKENS State: SC Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT LOST POWER AND DEPLOYED THE EMERGENCY PARACHUTE. PICKENS, SC
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 3 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Cruise Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: COLUMBIA, SC (SO13) Entry date: 07/23/2012
A red parachute was deployed when Cirrus SR-22, N138CK crashed in Pickens Co. Sunday
Cirrus SR-22, N138CK crash in woods near the Pickens County airport
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Chuck Hayne, Pickens Co. Emergency Management
Chuck Hayne, Pickens Co. Emergency Management
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Plane crash-lands in trees in Pickens Co.
It took emergency crews a while to get the plane and passengers down from the trees.
Courtesy Jonathan Browder
Plane crash-lands in trees in Pickens Co.
Four people were on board, two of who were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Courtesy Jonathan Browder
Plane crash-lands in trees in Pickens Co.
A plane crash-landed into trees near McClanahan Road in Liberty Sunday afternoon.
Courtesy Jonathan Browder
Courtesy Jonathan Browder
Plane crash-lands in trees in Pickens Co.
Emergency crews were placed at two different staging areas to offer aid with the plane crash near Liberty.
The plane reported problems by cell phone to authorities and was trying to land at the Pickens County airport when it went down.
Courtesy Jonathan Browder
Plane crash-lands in trees in Pickens Co.
Courtesy Jonathan Browder
Emergency crews were placed at two different staging areas to offer aid with the plane crash near Liberty.
PAUL BROWN
LIBERTY, SC (FOX Carolina) - A plane crash-landed into trees near McClanahan Road in Liberty Sunday afternoon, sending two people to the hospital.
Pickens County Emergency Management officials said the plane had four passengers and was headed from Cobb County, GA, to Greensboro, NC, when they reported problems by cell phone to authorities.
Officials said the pilot was trying to make an emergency landing at the Pickens County Airport when the plane went down.
The plane's parachute deployed, guiding it into the trees, officials said. We're told two of the four people on board were taken to the hospital and two refused treatment.
Story, video and photo: http://www.foxcarolina.com
Pickens County Emergency Management officials said the plane had four passengers and was headed from Cobb County, GA, to Greensboro, NC, when they reported problems by cell phone to authorities.
Officials said the pilot was trying to make an emergency landing at the Pickens County Airport when the plane went down.
The plane's parachute deployed, guiding it into the trees, officials said. We're told two of the four people on board were taken to the hospital and two refused treatment.
Story, video and photo: http://www.foxcarolina.com
PICKENS, SC (WACH / AP) – Four people escaped
serious injury Sunday, when their planes engine stalled, when the pilot
deployed a parachute that brought the plane safely down into a stand of
trees.
According to Pickens County Sheriff’s
Capt. Keith Galloway said the incident happened at about 5:00 p.m.
Galloway said the plane had taken off from another state, when the
engine stalled, the pilot planned to land the plane at Pickens County’s
airport, however, the plane came down about a mile and a half away from
the landing strip.
The plane came to rest about 15 to 20 feet up in a stand of
trees. Multiple EMS agencies responded to the incident, and the
occupants were checked my medical personnel, but there were no
life-threatening injuries.
Source: http://www.midlandsconnect.com
LIBERTY, S.C. -- Pickens County emergency officials say four people survived a plane crash.It happened around 4:45 Sunday afternoon on Breazeale Road -- not too far from the Pickens County Airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration says the plane was a Cirrus SR22 and the pilot of the plane reported engine trouble.
The Pickens County Director of Emergency Management Chuck Haynes says the pilot tried to make an emergency landing at the Pickens County Airport, but didn't make it.
Haynes says the plane was equipped with a parachute and the four on board stayed with the plane and it landed safely in the trees.
Haynes says the four people were rescued from the plane.
Two people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries and two others refused treatment.
Story, photo and video, comments: http://www2.wspa.com
The Federal Aviation Administration says the plane was a Cirrus SR22 and the pilot of the plane reported engine trouble.
The Pickens County Director of Emergency Management Chuck Haynes says the pilot tried to make an emergency landing at the Pickens County Airport, but didn't make it.
Haynes says the plane was equipped with a parachute and the four on board stayed with the plane and it landed safely in the trees.
Haynes says the four people were rescued from the plane.
Two people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries and two others refused treatment.
Story, photo and video, comments: http://www2.wspa.com
PICKENS, S.C. (AP) — Four occupants of a small airplane escaped
serious injury Sunday when the plane's engine stalled and the pilot
deployed a parachute that brought the craft safely into a stand of trees
in northwestern South Carolina, according to a local official.
It happened about 5 p.m. Sunday, not far from the Pickens County Airport, Sheriff's Capt. Keith Galloway said.
He said the plane had taken off from another state and was in the
Pickens County area when the engine quit and the pilot couldn't restart
it.
"They were in the vicinity of the airport when they started to
experience some engine trouble," Galloway said. The pilot was aiming for
the airport, he said, but couldn't make it.
"Fortunately he had a parachute-equipped airplane as a safety
device," Galloway said. "He deployed the parachute on the airplane and
it slowed the airplane down and it glided into a stand of trees about a
mile and a half to two miles from the runway."
Galloway said the craft came to rest about 15 to 20 feet up in a
stand of trees. Multiple emergency response agencies using ladders
helped free the occupants. Galloway said they were checked by medical
personnel, but there were no life-threatening injuries. He said the plane was a Cirrus. According to the Cirrus Aircraft
website, an airframe parachute is standard equipment on all airplanes
manufactured by the company.
The plane remained in the trees Sunday night. Galloway said local
authorities secured the scene at the request of the Federal Aviation
Administration. He said federal investigators would survey the site on
Monday.
Pickens County sits on the North Carolina line, near northeastern Georgia.
Story: http://www.reflector.com
PICKENS, S.C. (AP) - An official says four occupants of a small airplane escaped serious injury when the plane's engine stalled and the pilot deployed a parachute that brought the craft safely into a stand of trees in northwestern South Carolina.
Pickens County Sheriff's Capt. Keith Galloway said it happened about 5 p.m. Sunday.
He said the plane had taken off from another state and happened to be near Pickens County's airport when the engine quit. The pilot sought to land there, but the plane parachuted down about a mile and a half away.
Galloway said the craft came to rest about 15 to 20 feet up in a stand of trees. Multiple emergency response agencies helped free the occupants. Galloway said they were checked by medical personnel, but there were no life-threatening injuries.
Source: http://www.wbtv.com
Pickens County Sheriff's Capt. Keith Galloway said it happened about 5 p.m. Sunday.
He said the plane had taken off from another state and happened to be near Pickens County's airport when the engine quit. The pilot sought to land there, but the plane parachuted down about a mile and a half away.
Galloway said the craft came to rest about 15 to 20 feet up in a stand of trees. Multiple emergency response agencies helped free the occupants. Galloway said they were checked by medical personnel, but there were no life-threatening injuries.
Source: http://www.wbtv.com
LIBERTY — A single-engine plane landed in a tree two miles from an airport runway Sunday evening, sparing four passengers of serious injury.
The plane’s engine stopped, and the pilot tried to land at the Pickens County Airport, said Capt. Keith Galloway of the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office. The pilot deployed a parachute attached to the bottom of the Cirrus plane and sailed into the woods off Breazeale Road near the Pickens County Career & Technology Center. The crash happened at 5 p.m., Galloway said, and by 6 p.m. passengers had been removed. All could walk and were taken to an area hospital to be checked.
“We’ve been blessed, and I think they’re going to be OK,” Galloway said.
The pilot flew in from another state, but his name and the names of passengers were unknown Sunday night.
The parachute likely saved every life on board, Galloway said.
“He’s very fortunate to have had the parachute on the plane because if not we probably would have been facing a tragedy in the county tonight,” he said.
The crash caused a small fuel spill and was cleaned, said Chuck Haynes, director of the Pickens County Emergency Management Agency.
Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration in Columbia will investigate the crash Monday morning.
Liberty Fire Department, Pickens County Rescue and Pickens County Emergency Management also responded to the crash.
Source: http://www.independentmail.com
The plane’s engine stopped, and the pilot tried to land at the Pickens County Airport, said Capt. Keith Galloway of the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office. The pilot deployed a parachute attached to the bottom of the Cirrus plane and sailed into the woods off Breazeale Road near the Pickens County Career & Technology Center. The crash happened at 5 p.m., Galloway said, and by 6 p.m. passengers had been removed. All could walk and were taken to an area hospital to be checked.
“We’ve been blessed, and I think they’re going to be OK,” Galloway said.
The pilot flew in from another state, but his name and the names of passengers were unknown Sunday night.
The parachute likely saved every life on board, Galloway said.
“He’s very fortunate to have had the parachute on the plane because if not we probably would have been facing a tragedy in the county tonight,” he said.
The crash caused a small fuel spill and was cleaned, said Chuck Haynes, director of the Pickens County Emergency Management Agency.
Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration in Columbia will investigate the crash Monday morning.
Liberty Fire Department, Pickens County Rescue and Pickens County Emergency Management also responded to the crash.
Source: http://www.independentmail.com
News 4 has learned that a small plane crashed near the Pickens County Airport.
The crash happened in a wooded area at about 5:00 p.m. near McClanahan Road.
News 4 was told all four people on the plane survived the crash.
Rescue crews are having a difficult time getting to the crash site that was a quarter of a mile into a wooded area.
According to investigators shortly after flying over the Pickens County airport the pilot reported engine trouble, but before the pilot could return to the airport the engine quit.
That's when the pilot deployed the plane's parachute to help bring it to a slow crash landing in the wooded area.
Two of the people on board were taken to the hospital for evaluation.
Investigators said the plane was headed to Greensboro, North Carolina, but have not said where the plane was from.
Rescue crews are having a difficult time getting to the crash site that was a quarter of a mile into a wooded area.
According to investigators shortly after flying over the Pickens County airport the pilot reported engine trouble, but before the pilot could return to the airport the engine quit.
That's when the pilot deployed the plane's parachute to help bring it to a slow crash landing in the wooded area.
Two of the people on board were taken to the hospital for evaluation.
Investigators said the plane was headed to Greensboro, North Carolina, but have not said where the plane was from.
