What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On the morning of June 16th, 2022, N52854 departed from Austin Bergstrom International (kaus) at about 1850Z. The aircraft had just completed a 100 hour inspection and was being tested before being returned to service.
About 10 minutes into the flight, unbeknownst to the pilot, a v-band clamp securing the exhaust system to the engine turbocharger broke. This allowed hot exhaust from the turbocharger system to blow across the accessory section of the engine. This subsequently melted parts of the induction, electrical, and exhaust systems. This also is what caused the smoke in the cockpit reported by the pilot.
The aircraft lost power because of this damage, and was unable to maintain altitude. The aircraft was maneuvered and made a water landing in ladybird lake, there it was submerged and came to rest.
As the FAA filed it
ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 16TH, 2022, N52854 DEPARTED FROM AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL (KAUS) AT ABOUT 1850Z. THE AIRCRAFT HAD JUST COMPLETED A 100 HOUR INSPECTION AND WAS BEING TESTED BEFORE BEING RETURNED TO SERVICE.
ABOUT 10 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, UNBEKNOWNST TO THE PILOT, A V-BAND CLAMP SECURING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM TO THE ENGINE TURBOCHARGER BROKE. THIS ALLOWED HOT EXHAUST FROM THE TURBOCHARGER SYSTEM TO BLOW ACROSS THE ACCESSORY SECTION OF THE ENGINE. THIS SUBSEQUENTLY MELTED PARTS OF THE INDUCTION, ELECTRICAL, AND EXHAUST SYSTEMS. THIS ALSO IS WHAT CAUSED THE SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT REPORTED BY THE PILOT.
THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER BECAUSE OF THIS DAMAGE, AND WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS MANEUVERED AND MADE A WATER LANDING IN LADYBIRD LAKE, THERE IT WAS SUBMERGED AND CAME TO REST.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.