Friday, March 13, 2020

Loss of Engine Power (Total): Cirrus SR22, N345DM; accident occurred March 05, 2019 in Atlantic Ocean











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

Additional Participating Entities:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Miramar, Florida
Cirrus Aircraft; Duluth, Minnesota
Continental Motors; Mobile, Alabama

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


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

https://registry.faa.gov/N345DM

Location: Atlantic Ocean, AO
Accident Number: ERA19TA120
Date & Time: 03/05/2019, 1515 UTC
Registration: N345DM
Aircraft: Cirrus SR22
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 2 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

On March 5, 2019, about 1515 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), a Cirrus SR22 airplane, N345DM, was ditched into the Atlantic Ocean about 25 miles southeast of Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos. The private pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was not recovered and presumed substantially damaged. The flight was operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed near the accident site, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (TISX), St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands about 1315 and was destined for Providenciales International Airport (MBPV), Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.

The pilot, who was the airplane owner, reported that the yellow low oil engine pressure light illuminated about 2 hours into the flight while at 8,000 ft mean sea level. The analog oil pressure gauge confirmed the low oil pressure reading of 25 psi. The oil pressure continued to drop and the pilot notified air traffic control of the situation. As the oil pressure dropped to 2 psi, the engine vibrated strongly and the propeller stopped. The pilot established best glide speed and deployed the airplane parachute system at 1,500 ft above the water. The airplane landed in the water in an upright position. The life raft was inflated and the pilots egressed from the airplane. They were subsequently rescued by a passing cruise ship about 2 hours later.

A review of the aircraft maintenance records revealed that an annual inspection of the airframe and engine was completed on November 30, 2019, at 2,657 hours total aircraft time. The owner reported that about 50 hours of flight time accrued since the inspection.

The wreckage was not recovered.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 56, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 03/28/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 03/31/2017
Flight Time:  3000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 2300 hours (Total, this make and model), 75 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 25 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cirrus
Registration: N345DM
Model/Series: SR22
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2003
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 0761
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 11/30/2018, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3400 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 50 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2657 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: C91A installed
Engine Model/Series: IO-550-N27
Registered Owner: Dragon Aviation Llc
Rated Power: 310 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: MBJT, 10 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 20 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1000 EST
Direction from Accident Site: 307°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  30 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts:
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting:
Temperature/Dew Point:
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: St Croix, VI (TISX)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: Providenciales, AO (MBPV)
Type of Clearance: IFR
Departure Time: 1315 UTC
Type of Airspace: Unknown

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 21.233333, -70.849722 (est)

2 comments:

  1. Yet, another Cirrus parachute save!! Congratulations to the pilot, passenger and Cirrus.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And also being able to give a GPS fix that directed the SAR resources. Landing safely on the chute wouldn't be enough if you could not be found. They had a good set of circumstances!

      Delete