# NTSB WPR24FA103: Cirrus Design SR22T, N927CS, Bellevue, WA, March 6, 2024 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: March 5, 2024, 17:04 local (Mar 6, 2024, 01:04 UTC) - Place: Bellevue, WA - Coordinates: 47.544, -122.1709 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5440&lon=-122.1709&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 13, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Continental Aerospace Technologies, FAA, Cirrus Aircraft - NTSB case key (mKey): 193887 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24FA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193887/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193887 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA103 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to a fatigue fracture of the crankshaft. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip engine power section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 233 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); 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) - [Initial climb: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22T, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2130004), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight crew reported that shortly after leveling off, the engine rpm surged a few times, followed by the sound of a loud bang and subsequent total loss of engine power. Unable to restart the engine, they successfully deployed the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) and descended under the parachute into a wooded wetland area adjacent to a residential neighborhood. Examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft was fractured between the No. 2 main bearing journal (M2) and the No. 3 connecting rod (C3) journal. Fretting was observed on the parting surface of the No. 2 main bearing saddle. The No. 2 main bearing saddle remained in place and was deformed, consistent with a rotating main bearing. Damage to the interior engine case was observed throughout. The crankshaft near the M2 journal and the No. 3 connecting rod journal was fracture separated. Metallurgical examination of the crankshaft fracture revealed fatigue cracking that initiated at multiple sites along the radius of the web with the C3 journal. As this crack propagated aftward, a second smaller fatigue crack began along the radius of the aft M2 bearing. It is likely that as the crack continued to grow in depth, it allowed the remainder of the crankshaft to fracture from overstress and subsequent failure. The postfracture damage was due to the fractured surfaces of the crankshaft, between the C3 and M2, that continued to make contact with each other during the accident sequence. Due to the damage to the M2 bearing, the No. 2 main bearing saddle, and the fracture surface of the crankshaft on the M2 bearing side, it could not be determined if bearing slippage was the initiating event. The fatigue fracture of the crankshaft likely led to the total loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On March 5, 2024, about 1704 Pacific standard time, a Cirrus SR-22T, N927CS, sustained minor damage when it was involved in an incident near Bellevue, Washington. The flight instructor and the pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction reported that after takeoff from runway 34, Renton Municipal Airport, they leveled off at about 2,500 ft mean sea level (msl). A few minutes later, the engine rpm surged a few times, followed by the sound of a loud bang and subsequent total loss of engine power. Unable to restart the engine, they deployed the CAPS and the airplane descended under the parachute into a wooded wetland area adjacent to a residential neighborhood. Figure 1: Front view of incident airplane. Examination of the incident site revealed that the airplane impacted terrain about 4 miles northeast of the departure end of runway 34. The airplane came to rest upright in an approximate 10° nose-low attitude on a heading of about 066° magnetic at an elevation of about 417 ft msl. Review of the airframe and engine logbooks revealed that the engine, a Continental Motors TSIO-550-K1B, was overhauled in November 2019, and installed on the airframe in April of 2020. At the time of the incident, the engine had accumulated about 680 hours since major overhaul. Examination of the recovered wreckage revealed damage to the nose landing gear fairing. Both wings and flaps were removed by recovery personnel. The engine remained attached to the fuselage via the engine mount. All six cylinders and all engine accessories remained attached. All fuel and oil lines appeared attached to their respective fittings. No evidence of any mechanical damage was observed to the engine crankcase. Throttle and mixture control continuity was established from the cockpit controls to the fuel servo and moved its available length when actuated by hand. The engine was shipped to the Continental Motors Inc. facilities for further examination. Subsequent examination of the engine revealed that all six cylinders remained attached to the engine crankcase; no external visible damage was observed. The engine was placed on a rotating engine stand and disassembled. Fretting was observed on the parting surface of the No. 2 main bearing saddle. Damage to the Nos. 3 and 4-cylinders barrel skirts were observed. The No. 2 main bearing (M2) saddle remained in place and was deformed, consistent with a rotating main bearing. The engine was further dissembled to access the crankshaft and rotating mass. Damage to the interior crank case was observed throughout. The crankshaft near the M2 journal and the No. 3 connecting rod journal was fracture separated. The crankshaft was sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory, Washington, DC, for examination. The examination of the fracture surface revealed characteristics consistent with fatigue cracking thatinitiated at multiple locations along the radius of the web within the C3 journal. As this crack propagated rearward, a second smaller fatigue crack initiated along the radius of the aft M2 bearing. Review of maintenance records did not reveal any recent maintenance performed on the crankshaft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N927CS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N927CS), registered now, S/N 0496, built 2013 (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: 0496 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 2693.8 - Engines: Continental Motors TSIO-550-K1B 315 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Boeing Employees Flying Association - Registered owner: Lure Jet LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 16, 2023 - Departed: RNT, Renton, WA - Airport: RNT, Renton Muni, runway 34, 5,382 × 200 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Airframe parachute, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 62; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 10, 2023; seat: right; flight hours: 15,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 14,500 as pilot in command - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 9 knots - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KRNT, 3 nm away - METAR: METAR KRNT 060053Z 33009KT 10SM CLR 07/M02 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP174 T00721017= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20240305002009I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240305002009I), Mar 5, 2024: Cirrus Design Corp SR22T, Bellevue, WA, Minor damage. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were completing a recurrency flight March 5, 2024. Their aircraft was cleared for a VFR takeoff… ## Docket (13 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 14, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193887. 470 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16884935&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - CFI & pilot statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 804 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16884788&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20and%20CFI%20statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Engine maintenance records (item 3, PDF, 9 pages, 441 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18007235&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Maintenance%20Records_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Incident site examination (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 651 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17871345&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24FA103%20Incident%20Site%20Examination-Rel.pdf - Airframe and engine examination (item 5, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18261754&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24FA103%20Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Examination-Rel.pdf - Engine examination (item 6, PDF, 17 pages, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18261714&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24FA103%20Engine%20Exam_redacted-Rel.pdf - Recoverable data module - specialist's factual report (item 7, PDF, 17 pages, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17373553&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Recoverable%20Data%20Module%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_WPR24FA103-Rel.pdf - Attachment 1 to recoverable data module - specialist's factual report (item 8, CSV, 685 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17373897&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment%201%20to%20Recoverable%20Data%20Module%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_WPR24FA103-Rel.csv - Attachment 2 to recoverable data module - specialist's factual report (item 9, CSV, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17374027&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment%202%20to%20Recoverable%20Data%20Module%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_WPR24FA103-Rel.csv - Materials laboratory factual report (item 10, PDF, 20 pages, 24 photos, 8.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17837170&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=24-054%20-%20Materials%20Lab%20Factual%20Report%20(WPR24FA103)-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 11, PDF, 2 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17870815&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Signed%20parties%20form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Evidence control forms (item 12, PDF, 3 pages, 288 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18007022&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24FA103%20-%20Evidence%20Forms_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 13, PDF, 1 page, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18006671&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24FA103%20Release%20of%20Wreckage%20Form_Redacted-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.