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20181121022789A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Cirrus Design SR22 · Sand Creek, WI · November 21, 2018

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
November 21, 2018 · 10:45 local
Place
Sand Creek, WI
Phase of flight
Climb
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N579CP
NTSB investigation
NTSBGAA19CA074
Reported as
Cirrus Design SR22
Reported engine
Continental IO-550-N
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificates
Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
4,250 total4,000 in this make and model70 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

N579CP was climbing through 10000 ft MSL, on a day with published weather 9000 ft overcast in the area. At about 10000 ft there was a sudden drop in fuel flow, approximately 15 gph, and also a noted drop in manifold pressure. Shortly thereafter the airplane rolled left, went nose down, and began a diving left turn. This airplane achieved an angle of bank greater than 40 degrees, nose down attitude greater than 20 degrees, airspeeds greater than 15 KIAS over the never exceed speed (vne), and rates of descent close to 9000 ft per minute. At approximately 3700 ft MSL the parachute is deployed and the airplane lands on top of an irrigation system in a cornfield. There were no injuries to the pilot or anyone on the ground. The airplane suffered substanial damage as did the irrigation system. Upon post flight investigation it was discovered that the right side upper deck air reference lines are disconnected. When that line is disconnected the fuel pump loses its reference and the pump starts to reduce fuel flow to the engine.

As the FAA filed it

N579CP WAS CLIMBING THROUGH 10000 FT MSL, ON A DAY WITH PUBLISHED WEATHER 9000 FT OVERCAST IN THE AREA. AT ABOUT 10000 FT THERE WAS A SUDDEN DROP IN FUEL FLOW, APPROXIMATELY 15 GPH, AND ALSO A NOTED DROP IN MANIFOLD PRESSURE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE AIRPLANE ROLLED LEFT, WENT NOSE DOWN, AND BEGAN A DIVING LEFT TURN. THIS AIRPLANE ACHIEVED AN ANGLE OF BANK GREATER THAN 40 DEGREES, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE GREATER THAN 20 DEGREES, AIRSPEEDS GREATER THAN 15 KIAS OVER THE NEVER EXCEED SPEED (VNE), AND RATES OF DESCENT CLOSE TO 9000 FT PER MINUTE. AT APPROXIMATELY 3700 FT MSL THE PARACHUTE IS DEPLOYED AND THE AIRPLANE LANDS ON TOP OF AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM IN A CORNFIELD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT OR ANYONE ON THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE SUFFERED SUBSTANIAL DAMAGE AS DID THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM. UPON POST FLIGHT INVESTIGATION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT SIDE UPPER DECK AIR REFERENCE LINES ARE DISCONNECTED. WHEN THAT LINE IS DISCONNECTED THE FUEL PUMP LOSES ITS REFERENCE AND THE PUMP STARTS TO REDUCE FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB GAA19CA074Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportSand Creek, WIThe mechanic's failure to properly secure the air reference line, which resulted in a loss of engine power.Nov 21, 2018 · Substantial damage