Pilot Debrief

CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22 near Ogden, UT — 2017-07-15

Final reportWPR17LA157
Sign in to save
Date
2017-07-15
Location
Ogden, UT, USA
Airport
OGD
Aircraft
CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22
Registration
N754AP
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The failure of the No. 4 cylinder exhaust valve head, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to oil starvation.

NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, the personal cross-country flight was uneventful until he was established on the final approach about 7 miles from the destination airport. At that point, he heard a bang, felt a shudder from the engine, and noticed the airplane’s oil pressure decreasing. Shortly thereafter, the oil pressure indicated zero and the engine shut down. Unable to maintain altitude and too low to deploy the airplane’s parachute, the pilot decided to land on a nearby open field. During the landing sequence, the airplane’s left wing struck two wood posts, incurring substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s engine revealed that the No. 4 cylinder exhaust valve head was separated from the valve stem, which destroyed the No. 4 piston causing oil to dump through the No. 4 cylinder’s exhaust valve area. The resulting oil starvation led to catastrophic engine failure. The reason for the failure of the No. 4 cylinder exhaust valve head could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have deployed the parachute before losing too much altitude.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 10 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents10

Related mishaps