# NTSB ERA19TA120: Cirrus SR22, N345DM, Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean), March 5, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Final report - Date: March 5, 2019, 15:15 UTC - Place: Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean) - Coordinates: 37.634746, -72.862037 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6347&lon=-72.8620&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Continental Motors, FAA/S FL FSDO, Cirrus Aircraft - NTSB case key (mKey): 99060 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19TA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99060/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99060 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19TA120 ## Probable cause A loss of oil pressure and subsequent total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## 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. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 50 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the yellow low oil engine pressure light illuminated about 2 hours into the flight while the airplane was at 8,000 ft mean sea level. The analog oil pressure gauge confirmed the low oil pressure reading of 25 psi. The oil pressure continued to drop, and the pilot notified air traffic control of the situation. As the oil pressure dropped to 2 psi, the engine vibrated strongly and the propeller stopped. The pilot established best glide speed and deployed the airplane parachute system about 1,500 ft above the water. The airplane landed in the water in an upright position. The life raft was inflated, and the pilots egressed from the airplane and were subsequently rescued by a passing cruise ship about 2 hours later. The airplane was not recovered from the ocean, which precluded a postaccident examination. ## Factual narrative On March 5, 2019, about 1515 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), a Cirrus SR22 airplane, N345DM, was ditched into the Atlantic Ocean about 25 miles southeast of Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos. The private pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was not recovered and presumed substantially damaged. The flight was operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed near the accident site, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (TISX), St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands about 1315 and was destined for Providenciales International Airport (MBPV), Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. The pilot, who was the airplane owner, reported that the yellow low oil engine pressure light illuminated about 2 hours into the flight while at 8,000 ft mean sea level. The analog oil pressure gauge confirmed the low oil pressure reading of 25 psi. The oil pressure continued to drop and the pilot notified air traffic control of the situation. As the oil pressure dropped to 2 psi, the engine vibrated strongly and the propeller stopped. The pilot established best glide speed and deployed the airplane parachute system at 1,500 ft above the water. The airplane landed in the water in an upright position. The life raft was inflated and the pilots egressed from the airplane. They were subsequently rescued by a passing cruise ship about 2 hours later. A review of the aircraft maintenance records revealed that an annual inspection of the airframe and engine was completed on November 30, 2019, at 2,657 hours total aircraft time. The owner reported that about 50 hours of flight time accrued since the inspection. The wreckage was not recovered. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N345DM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N345DM-2019-11-04), registration cancelled 2019-11-04, S/N 0761, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cirrus SR22 - 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: 0761 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 2657 - Engines: Continental IO-550-N27 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 30, 2018, 50 hours before - Departed: TISX, St Croix - Destination: MBPV, Providenciales, AO - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Stall warning system, Airframe parachute, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 31, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,000 total, 2,300 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Observed at: MBJT, 20 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 20190305023639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190305023639A), Mar 5, 2019: Cirrus Design Corp SR22, OC, Destroyed. Pilot reported approximately 2 hours in to flight at cruise. Yellow "low oil pressure" light came on. Confirmed with analog guage approx. 25 PSI. Informed ATC… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 3, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99060. 9.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479592&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Excerpts - FAA ATC Aircraft Accident Package (item 2, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479593&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20-%20FAA%20ATC%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Package-Master.PDF - Aircraft Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 571 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479594&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 4, .PDF, 504 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479595&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-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. --- 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.