During the en route climb to cruise altitude, the low oil pressure warning light activated. The pilot notified air traffic control, received vectors to the nearest airport, and began a descent as the oil pressure continued to decrease.
About three miles from the airport in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the Cirrus SR22’s engine experienced a total loss of power.
The pilot could not see the airport or runway due to a cloud layer below and elected to deploy the airplane parachute system. The airplane descended under canopy to a four-lane road, where a car hit the left wing.
A post-accident examination of the engine revealed a fatigue fracture of the oil cooler cross fitting, which resulted in oil starvation, internal damage to the crankcase, and a subsequent total loss of engine power.
About four months before the accident, the engine manufacturer released a critical service bulletin (CSB) for a known problem pertaining to the oil cooler cross fitting assembly. Although the airplane underwent scheduled maintenance about a month before the accident, the CSB was not completed due to time constraints. Although compliance was not mandatory, it is likely that the accident would have been prevented had the CSB been completed.
Probable cause: The fatigue failure of the oil cooler cross fitting, which resulted in engine oil starvation and a total loss of engine power.
NTSB Identification: CEN16LA026
This November 2015 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
How much time doe’s a guy have to make that decision.
But even with a parachute, the pilot could of easily been killed and no guarantee of life, being he landed on a four lane highway and the aircraft was hit by a passing car. I guess he was “lucky” he wasn’t hit by a passing truck. Sometimes relying on a given life saver “per-say” doesn’t guarantee you that. It appears it could of been a 50-50 situation, if he would of continued thru the layer and landed on the highway, maybe just maybe it would of been better or the same. In other words, ” a controlled crash is sometimes allot better than some other way. This is the kind of parachute deployment that is scary, “It” in no way guarantees you will walk away. I personally prefer to have control of my aircraft.
More stupid pilots…
A known failure of a part that will destroy the engine.
At a minimum, the mechanic could have inspected the fitting for cracks. that would take 15 minutes.
I’ll bet that he would have found a fatigue crack in the fitting and would have then grounded the aircraft.
I never delay doing important service items during my annuals. My life is worth more.
Agree
But does your plane have a parachute ? Interesting estimation of the tradeoff then. And that was one of the “ issues “ raised as, after, the airplane parachute was developed.
My guess is if the owner of this plane did not have a parachute, time would have been available.