Pilot Debrief

CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR20 near St. George, UT — 2024-10-28

Final reportWPR25LA027
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Date
2024-10-28
Location
St. George, UT, USA
Airport
SGU
Aircraft
CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR20
Registration
N27WF
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

A partial loss of power for reasons that could not be determined due to postimpact fire damage.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor stated that after departure, the airplane’s acceleration felt sluggish. Despite troubleshooting, the airplane would not climb as expected and he decided to return to the airport. After realizing that the airplane would not make it back to the runway, he made an off-airport landing on soft desert terrain. The airplane landed hard and erupted into flames. A review of the recorded engine monitor data did not identify an abrupt loss of manifold pressure, fuel flow, oil pressure, or combustion from an individual cylinder during the takeoff or flight. The engine did not attain its rated speed despite the manifold pressure remaining as expected for takeoff, and the airplane accelerated slowly during the takeoff roll. The data were consistent with reduced available power or thrust during the takeoff and initial climb. The recorded data alone could not determine whether the reduced performance resulted from the engine fuel-metering or mixture system, the ignition system, or the propeller system. The postaccident examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failures; however, numerous systems were unable to be examined due to excessive damage from the postaccident fire. Therefore, the reason for the reduction of power could not be determined.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 6 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents6

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