# NTSB ERA22LA151: Cirrus SR22, N21EU, The Hammocks, FL, March 1, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 1, 2022, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: The Hammocks, FL
- Coordinates: 25.608342, -80.525273 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6083&lon=-80.5253&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104757
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA151
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104757/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104757
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA151

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate altitude above obstacles, which resulted controlled flight into a powerline.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated he was flying about 700 ft above ground level (AGL), then noticed that the airplane had descended “well below 500 ft.” He could see a pump station ahead with powerlines crossing the waterway and stated, “I’m too low.” He was traveling about 170 kts when he pulled back to climb and heard a “thud.” The airplane continued flying, but the pilot had limited rudder control. He returned to the departure airport and landed uneventfully; however, he noticed that the rudder was missing from the airplane. He stated that he looked up the pump station address and drove over to find the rudder laying in the grass near the powerlines. The rudder had impacted the powerline and separated from the airplane, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported that the airplane had no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N21EU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N21EU), registered now, S/N 2242, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CIRRUS SR22 (T)
- 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: 2242
- Year built: 2021
- Airframe hours: 395
- Engines: Continental IO-550-K 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, February 1, 2022, 25 hours before
- Departed: OPF, Miami, FL
- Equipment: Data recorder, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 17, 2021; seat: left; flight hours: 541 total, 434 in this make and model, 398 as pilot in command, 81 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: OPF, 22 nm away
- METAR: METAR KOPF 012253Z 06010KT 10SM CLR 23/17 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP158 T02330172=

## 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 20220301003119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220301003119A), Mar 1, 2022: Cirrus Design Corp SR22T, Opa Locka, FL, Substantial damage. N21EU checked in 20-miles southwest of the airport stating that he heard a loud thud and possibly hit a bird. He also indicated that the rudder didn't feel…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104757. 3.0 MB in all.

- Pilot aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13574623&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB_6120%20N21EU_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13575176&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_N21EU-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 918 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14291460&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20-%20ERA22LA151-Rel.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.