# NTSB CEN22LA117: Cirrus Design SR22T, N317KJ, Lincoln, NE, February 11, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 10, 2022, 20:06 local (Feb 11, 2022, 02:06 UTC) - Place: Lincoln, NE - Coordinates: 40.850889, -96.759111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8509&lon=-96.7591&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; LNK FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104629 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104629/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104629 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA117 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to continue the flight with abnormal engine indications and the subsequent failure of the No. 5 cylinder connecting rod for unknown reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the engine start, taxi, and run-up were normal. The night flight proceeded uneventfully until about 60 nm from the destination airport when the engine briefly stuttered and started to run rough. The pilot stated that he told air traffic control that the engine was running rough and requested to divert to an airport located about 39 nautical miles (nm) east of the destination airport. About 40 nm from the destination airport, the pilot told air traffic that the engine smoothed out and he wanted to continue the flight to the destination airport. About 6 nm from the destination airport, the pilot told air traffic that he would be unable to make it to the runway due to engine power loss and was going to look for a field where he could land. He located a field and deployed the airframe parachute. The airplane landed, under parachute, in the field and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Recorded avionics data for the flight showed that the abnormal engine indications began about 100 nm from the destination airport and continued to the end of the flight. The pilot continued the flight and passed two airports where a safe precautionary landing could have been performed while operating in night light conditions, which increased the risk of finding a safe area to perform an off-airport landing. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed a catastrophic engine failure. The No. 4 and 5 cylinders were not connected to their respective crankpins. The No. 5 cylinder crankpin surface lacked the deformation and scoring found on the No. 4 cylinder crankpin, suggesting that the No. 5 piston connecting rod separated from its crankpin and that material from the No. 5 cylinder induced foreign object damage and subsequent failure to the remaining portions of the engine. ## Factual narrative On February 10, 2022, at 2006 central standard time, a Cirrus SR22T, N317KJ, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Lincoln, Nebraska. The pilot and a passenger were uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot did not report any anomalies with the engine start, run-up, or takeoff. He reported the that the flight was initially uneventful, and the airplane was operating with all the gauges indicating within the proper operating limits. At 10,000 ft mean sea level (msl) and about 60 nm east of Lincoln Airport, Lincoln, Nebraska, there was a brief “stutter” of the engine, and the engine began to run rough. He contacted Omaha approach control and told them the engine was running rough and would like to divert to Plattsmouth Municipal Airport/Douglas V Duey Field (PMV), Plattsmouth, Nebraska, located about 39 nm and 080o from LNK. The pilot said he a received clearance to fly direct to PMV and to descend and maintain 4,000 ft msl. About 40 nm miles from LNK and 8,000 ft msl, the pilot said he told Omaha approach control that the engine smoothed out, and he would like to continue the flight to LNK at 6,000 ft msl. The pilot said as the flight continued to LNK, the engine’s No. 3 cylinder head temperature indicated 0oF. About 15 nm east of LNK, the engine began to run rough again, and the pilot asked Omaha approach control if he could begin a slow descent toward LNK. He was cleared to descend and maintain 3,000 ft msl. About 12 nm from LNK, he was issued cleared for a visual approach to runway 17 and subsequently a clearance to land. As he continued the descent to 2,500 ft msl, the engine began to run rough, the oil pressure rapidly decreased, and the indicated airspeed decreased. About 6 nm from LNK, he told LNK air traffic control that he would be unable to make it to the runway and was going to look for a field to land on. He located a field, deployed the airframe parachute, and the airplane landed in the field and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Recorded avionics data showed that about 1930, the airplane was about 100 nm from LNK and about 7 nm northeast of Schenck Field Airport, Clarinda, Iowa, at an altitude of about 10,000 ft when the No. 3 cylinder head temperature decreased to and remained about 210oF while the remaining cylinder head temperatures were about 300oF. The No. 3 cylinder had a corresponding decrease in exhaust gas temperature to about 600oF while the remaining cylinder exhaust gas temperatures remained about 1,300oF. These temperature indications remained constant to about 2007:30, at which time the temperatures further decreased to the end of recorded data at 2009:55. The continuous decrease in engine temperature corresponded to decreases in indicated airspeed and engine speed. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 3 cylinder, opposite to the No. 4 cylinder, was attached and secured to its crankpin. Thecylinder exhibited debris related impact damage to an estimated 45o of the piston skirt bottom and nearest crank cheek. The No. 4 cylinder connecting rod was detached from its crankpin at the connecting rod end. The end of the connecting rod was deformed and its connecting rod bolts and connecting rod cap were not intact. The No. 4 cylinder crankpin exhibited partial gouging along its circumference and radial impact related deformation. The No. 5 piston and its connecting rod were intact and secure. The crankpin end of the No. 5 piston connecting rod was not connected to its crankpin, and the connecting rod end was hammered into a rounded shape. The connecting rod cap was not intact. The No. 5 cylinder crankpin did not exhibit scoring and did not possess gouging like that of the No. 4 cylinder crankpin. The deformed end of a connecting rod with both connecting rod bolts in place was recovered loose in the engine. The engine oil sump contained metallic debris, which was consistent with internal engine component failure, and engine oil. The airplane engine logbook showed that on June 30, 2021, at a Hobbs time of 887.7 and a flight time of 790.0 hours, the No. 5 cylinder, part number 658595A1, serial number AC18FB740, was removed and replaced with a new cylinder, part number 658815A3, serial number AC21CA785. The engine logbook did not have entries for any subsequent engine cylinder removals. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N317KJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N317KJ), registered now, S/N 1881, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22T - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR22T](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22t) (registry code 2130004) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-550-K](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-550-k) (registry code 17410, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1881 - Year built: 2019 - Airframe hours: 1159.3 - Engines: Continental Motors TSIO550K1B 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Cc Equipment Holdings LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 30, 2022 - Departed: TYQ, Zionsville, IN - Destination: LNK, Lincoln, NE - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 15, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 775 total, 503 in this make and model, 667 as pilot in command, 93 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 220° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.62 inHg - Observed at: LNK, 6 nm away ## 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 20220210004709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220210004709A), Feb 10, 2022: Cirrus Design Corp SR22T, Lincoln, NE, Substantial damage. On February 10, 2022 at approximately 2006 central daylight time (CDT), a Cirrus SR22T airplane was substantially damaged due to impact with terrain during an… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 14, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104629. 35.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14824488&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14824498&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20N317KJ%20Emergency%20Landing%20-%20Phelps_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Passenger statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14823375&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N317KJ%20Witness%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of examination (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15598892&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Examination-Rel.pdf - Engine logbook excerpt (item 5, PDF, 7 pages, 23.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15302518&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Log%20Excerpt%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 6, PDF, 11 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15598912&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Log%202-Rel.pdf - Onboard flight recorders - specialista��s factual report (item 7, PDF, 14 pages, 8 photos, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15065718&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN22LA117_Recorders-Rel.pdf - Onboard flight recorders - attachment 1 (tabular data for event flight) (item 8, CSV, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15066258&FileExtension=csv&FileName=attachment1-Rel.csv 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.