20200317016099A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cirrus Design SR22 · Conway, SC · March 17, 2020

Date: March 17, 2020 · 15:50 local
Place: Conway, SC
Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N150X
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA20LA129
Reported as: Cirrus Design SR22
Reported engine: Continental IO-550 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 350 total269 in this make and model16 in the last 90 days

N150XRegistration cancelled Jan 9, 2021 · Cirrus Design SR22S/N 0813 · Built 2004 Airframe modelCirrus Design SR22 Engine modelContinental IO-550 seriesReciprocating

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.

The pilot stated that after departure on an IFR flight he proceeded towards the destination airport, but elected to divert to (myr) due to the low ceiling at the destination. He was given the(ILS) to runway 18 and was vectored to uxdep, which was the initial approach fix. While in IMC he flew towards the iaf with autopilot on but realized the flight was higher than he wanted, and he reduced power to lose altitude. As the flight approached the iaf the airplane was still high and was not as stable as he wanted, stating that the airplane had a tendency to turn to the left. He added power to maintain altitude and felt like he was having to fight in the roll axis. At that moment he decided to activate the Cirrus airframe parachute system, and while descending under canopy, prepared for the touchdown, which occurred on all three landing gears.

As the FAA filed it

THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER DEPARTURE ON AN IFR FLIGHT HE PROCEEDED TOWARDS THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, BUT ELECTED TO DIVERT TO (MYR) DUE TO THE LOW CEILING AT THE DESTINATION. HE WAS GIVEN THE(ILS) TO RUNWAY 18 AND WAS VECTORED TO UXDEP, WHICH WAS THE INITIAL APPROACH FIX. WHILE IN IMC HE FLEW TOWARDS THE IAF WITH AUTOPILOT ON BUT REALIZED THE FLIGHT WAS HIGHER THAN HE WANTED, AND HE REDUCED POWER TO LOSE ALTITUDE. AS THE FLIGHT APPROACHED THE IAF THE AIRPLANE WAS STILL HIGH AND WAS NOT AS STABLE AS HE WANTED, STATING THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD A TENDENCY TO TURN TO THE LEFT. HE ADDED POWER TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND FELT LIKE HE WAS HAVING TO FIGHT IN THE ROLL AXIS. AT THAT MOMENT HE DECIDED TO ACTIVATE THE CIRRUS AIRFRAME PARACHUTE SYSTEM, AND WHILE DESCENDING UNDER CANOPY, PREPARED FOR THE TOUCHDOWN, WHICH OCCURRED ON ALL THREE LANDING GEARS.

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 ERA20LA129Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportConway, SCThe pilot’s incorrect use of the autopilot while approaching the initial approach fix and his subsequent improper primary pitch control input while a pitch mode of the autopilot was engaged, which resulted in pitch excursions and subsequent departure from…Mar 17, 2020 · Substantial damage