Sunday, July 07, 2019

Loss of Control in Flight: Cirrus SR-22, C-GMDQ, accident occurred April 08, 2018 in Lowville, Lewis County, New York

Cirrus SR-22, C-GMDQ, just after landing, still in an upright position.


The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entities:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Latham, New York
Cirrus Design Corporation; Duluth, Minnesota
Continental Motors Inc; Mobile, Alabama

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms


Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf



Location: Lowville, NY
Accident Number: ERA18LA124
Date & Time: 04/08/2018, 1653 EDT
Registration: C-GMDQ
Aircraft: CIRRUS SR22
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries:3 None 
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

Analysis 

The airplane was on a cross-country flight at 9,000 ft mean sea level, which was about 1,000 ft above clouds. At that time, the private pilot had the autopilot engaged and in navigation mode for the airplane to proceed directly to the next waypoint. An air traffic controller requested that the pilot turn right 20° or more, which the pilot complied with by switching the autopilot to heading mode and selecting the desired heading. Subsequently, the controller advised the pilot that he could proceed back on course. The pilot switched the autopilot back to navigation mode but did not select the next waypoint on the GPS. He realized immediately that he was returning to his previous navigation course and then selected the next waypoint on the GPS and again selected navigation mode on the autopilot. By the time he returned his attention to the primary flight display, the airplane was descending out of control through clouds, and the pilot subsequently activated the airplane's parachute system. The airplane descended via parachute and landed upright in a field, but wind gusts blew the parachute, which inverted the airplane. Examination of the wreckage revealed that during the hard landing, the nose landing gear collapsed and both main landing gear spread outward, which resulted in substantial damage to the primary structure of the airplane.

The primary flight display did not record any data. Thus, the investigation could not determine if the autopilot was engaged when the airplane departed controlled flight. However, regardless of whether or not the autopilot was engaged, it is likely that the pilot's attention was diverted to the GPS, which resulted in his failure to adequately monitor the airplane's attitude and maintain control of the airplane.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's diverted attention, which resulted in his inadequate monitoring of the airplane's attitude and a loss of control in flight.



Findings

Aircraft
Performance/control parameters - Not attained/maintained (Cause)

Personnel issues
Attention - Pilot (Cause)
Monitoring equip/instruments - Pilot (Cause)



Factual Information 

On April 8, 2018, about 1653 eastern daylight time, a Cirrus SR22, Canadian registration C-GMDQ, owned and operated by the private pilot, was substantially damaged during a hard landing, following a Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) deployment near Lowville, New York. The Canadian-certificated private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Bedford County Airport (HMZ), Bedford, Pennsylvania. The intended destination for the flight was Montreal Mirabel International Airport (CYMX), Mirabel, Quebec, Canada.

The pilot reported that the airplane was in cruise flight at 9,000 ft mean sea level, which was 1,000 feet above clouds. At that time, the autopilot was engaged and in navigation mode to proceed direct to the next waypoint, which was Massena International Airport (MSS), Massena, New York. Air traffic control (ATC) requested that the pilot turn right 20° or more, which the pilot complied with by switching the autopilot to heading mode and selecting the desired heading. Subsequently, ATC advised the pilot that he could proceed back on course. The pilot selected the autopilot back to navigation mode but did not select direct MSS on the GPS. He realized immediately that he was returning to his previous navigation course and then selected direct MSS in the GPS and again selected navigation mode on the autopilot. By the time he returned his vision and attention to the primary flight display, the airplane was descending out of control through clouds. Additionally, the depicted horizon on the primary flight display (PFD) did not appear correct and the pilot activated the CAPS. The pilot reported a total flight experience of 292 hours; of which, 220 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane.

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane descended via parachute and landed upright in a field. Subsequently, after all occupants egressed, wind gusts blew the parachute, which inverted the airplane. Further examination of the damage by a National Transportation Safety Board structural engineer revealed that during the upright landing on firm ground, the nose landing gear collapsed and both main landing gear spread outward, which resulted in substantial damage to the primary structure of the airplane.

Examination of the PFD revealed that it did not record any data. A check of the PFD's serial number by the manufacturer revealed that it was 16 years old and had not had a software update in 12 years. As such, the PFD, multifunction display and autopilot did not record any data. Without the data, the investigation could not determine if the autopilot was engaged or disengaged at the time when the airplane departed controlled flight.



History of Flight

Enroute-cruise
Loss of control in flight (Defining event)

Uncontrolled descent
Miscellaneous/other

Landing
Hard landing 




Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 47, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 11/07/2016
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 11/01/2017
Flight Time:  292 hours (Total, all aircraft), 220 hours (Total, this make and model), 124 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 19 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 17 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 4 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)



Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: CIRRUS
Registration: C-GMDQ
Model/Series: SR22
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2003
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 0654
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 02/05/2018, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3400 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 15 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2706 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: C91  installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-550-N
Registered Owner: 9334-9843 Quebec Inc
Rated Power: 310 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None



Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Instrument Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: GTB, 690 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 15 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 2049 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 340°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 200 ft agl
Visibility: 1.37 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 1000 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: 310°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.92 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: -3°C / -6°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: Light - Snow; No Obscuration
Departure Point: Bedord, PA (HMZ)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: Mirabel, QC (CYMX)
Type of Clearance: IFR
Departure Time: 1517 EDT
Type of Airspace: 



Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 3 None
Latitude, Longitude: 43.821389, -75.571389 (est)

4 comments:

  1. How not to fly a plane.

    Seriously, giving all Cirrus pilots a bad name.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Pretty good outcome considering it didn't have a pilot at the controls.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Pilot got private ticket, bought hot rod with < 100 hours on his PPL. Fortunately proceeded with IFR training, and tok his CAPS training to heart, but sounds like he understood pull the handle, but doesn't sound like he got the plane slow and under control. Fortunately, the plane was overengineered and the chute held. Lucky for him and the souls trusting him.

    That is a fast slick rig to be a first aircraft.

    ReplyDelete