# NTSB CEN16LA143: Cirrus Design SR22, N927DS, Alexandria, LA, March 23, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 23, 2016, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Alexandria, LA
- Coordinates: 31.480556, -92.731666 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.4806&lon=-92.7317&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 10, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA, Continental Motors, Inc., Cirrus Aircraft
- NTSB case key (mKey): 92962
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA143
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92962/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92962
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA143

## Probable cause

The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Approach: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot and flight instructor departed on a cross-country flight. The flight was uneventful until the descent to the destination airport. The pilot indicated that, during the descent, he reduced the engine throttle and noticed some "shaking from the engine." After troubleshooting, he realized the engine would not have sufficient power for the airplane to land at the airport. Due to the unsuitable terrain for an off-airport landing, the pilot chose to activate the ballistic parachute system. The airplane descended to the ground under the parachute canopy and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage during the impact with terrain. Postaccident examination revealed no airframe or engine malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A functional test of the engine revealed the engine accelerated normally without any hesitation, stumbling, or interruption in power and demonstrated the ability to produce rated horsepower. Thus, the reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information.

## Factual narrative

On March 23, 2016, about 1600 central daylight time, a Cirrus SR22 airplane, N927DS, impacted terrain following the deployment of the ballistic recovery system (BRS) parachute near Alexandria International Airport (AEX), Alexandria, Louisiana. The pilot and flight instructor were not injured. The airplane was registered to Rucks Aviation, LLC and operated by a private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. According to the pilot, he and the flight instructor departed Dallas Executive Airport, Dallas, Texas, and were en route to AEX. The flight was uneventful until the descent into AEX. During the descent, he reduced the engine throttle and noticed some "shaking from the engine." After some brief troubleshooting, he realized the engine would not make sufficient power for a landing at AEX. Due to the unsuitable terrain for an off-airport landing, the pilot elected to activate the BRS. The airplane descended to the ground under the parachute canopy sustained substantial damage to the fuselage during the impact. Seven gallons of fuel were drained from the right wing fuel tank, and 23 gallons of fuel were drained from the left wing fuel tank. The fuel selector was found in the right fuel tank position. The engine was placed in a manufacturer's test cell for a functional test. According to the manufacturer, the engine experienced a normal start on the first attempt without hesitation or stumbling in observed RPM. The engine was tested at various power settings for about 25 minutes including rapid throttle applications. Throughout the test phase, the engine accelerated normally without any hesitation, stumbling, or interruption in power and demonstrated the ability to produced rated horsepower. Postaccident examination revealed no airframe or engine anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N927DS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N927DS-2019-11-04), registration cancelled 2019-11-04, S/N 0497, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22) (registry code 2130001) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0497
- Year built: 2003
- Airframe hours: 1246.5
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550-N 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 23, 2016, 2 hours before
- Departed: RBD, Dallas, TX
- Destination: Alexandria, LA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Airframe parachute, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 14, 2015; seat: left; flight hours: 90 total, 11 in this make and model, 90 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Flight instructor; injuries: none; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: right

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20160323018869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160323018869A), Mar 23, 2016: Cirrus Design Corp SR22, Lena, LA, Substantial damage. Aircaft experienced engine trouble during decent. Pilots were not able to get the enging restarted. Pilots pulled chute and landed in wooded area. No injuries.

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 10, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92962. 5.1 MB in all.

- Cockpit Display - Recorded Flight Data Factual Report (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484240&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cockpit%20Display%20-%20Recorded%20Flight%20Data%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF
- Attachment 1 to Cockpit Displays - Recorded Flight Data Factual Report (item 2, .CSV, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484241&FileExtension=.csv&FileName=Attachment%201%20to%20Cockpit%20Displays%20-%20Recorded%20Flight%20Data%20Factual%20Report-Master.csv
- Attachment 2 to Cockpit Displays - Recorded Flight Data Factual Report (item 3, .CSV, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484242&FileExtension=.csv&FileName=Attachment%202%20to%20Cockpit%20Displays%20-%20Recorded%20Flight%20Data%20Factual%20Report-Master.csv
- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 4, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484243&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Airframe Examination Summary (item 5, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484244&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airframe%20Examination%20Summary-Master.PDF
- Engine Functional Test Report (item 6, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484245&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Functional%20Test%20Report-Master.PDF
- Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation Cirrus (item 7, .PDF, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484246&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation%20Cirrus-Master.PDF
- Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation Continental (item 8, .PDF, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484247&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation%20Continental-Master.PDF

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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