CEN19LA331

While in cruise flight, the airplane’s engine lost total power. The pilot deployed the airframe parachute and the airplane descended under canopy to a marsh, resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the engine found that a fuel line from the fuel manifold to the No. 1 cylinder failed in fatigue near the manifold, resulting in the loss of engine power. The failed fuel line was replaced postaccident and the engine was test run with no anomalies noted. Although the fuel manifold bracket was replaced twice in the approximate 2.5 years before the accident, the extent to which this may have been related to the failure of the fuel line was not determined.

On September 14, 2019, about 1620 central daylight time, a Cirrus SR20 airplane, N200Z, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Orange, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. While in cruise flight, the engine lost total power. Due to a lack of suitable areas for a forced landing, the pilot deployed the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). The airplane descended under canopy and came to rest in a cypress marsh, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. During recovery, fuel staining was found on the engine cowling and engine. Examination of the engine found the fuel line from the fuel manifold to the No. 1 cylinder was fractured near the manifold. Examination of the fuel line revealed evidence consistent with fatigue failure, and no material anomalies of the line. The broken fuel line was replaced, and a test run of the engine revealed no anomalies. The engine had accrued about 1,700 hours and about 35 hours since its most recent inspection. A review of maintenance logbooks found that the fuel manifold bracket was replaced in February 2017 and again in May 2018. The reason for the bracket replacements and whether the issue was related to the fatigue failure of the fuel line was not determined.