Cirrus SR22 N469GB

Summary

On 16 March 2024 at about 19:30 local time, a Cirrus SR22 registered N469GB, operated by TTA Holdings LLC, was involved in an accident near Winokur, Georgia, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 March 2024 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Winokur, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

31.0000, -82.0000

Aircraft

Cirrus SR22

Registration

N469GB

Category

Airplane

Year built

2015

Engines

1

Operator

TTA Holdings LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

St. Simons → Dublin

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA24LA141

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power due to the unseating and subsequent failure of the No. 4 piston connection rod bushing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

About 30 minutes into the flight, without warning, the airplane’s engine made a “loud noise” and stopped producing power. This was immediately followed by oil spraying onto the windscreen. Unable to divert to the closest airport due to distance and with no suitable places to land, the pilot deployed the whole airframe parachute system. The airplane came to rest between several trees and the airframe was substantially damaged. The pilot and passenger egressed the airplane without injury. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed a hole in the crown of the engine crankcase near the Nos. 3 and 4 cylinders. Further examination revealed the No. 4 piston connecting rod detached, with pieces found in the crankcase and oil sump. Additionally, the connecting rod bushings on all of the remaining piston connecting rods showed various signs of migration out of their respective locations; all bushings showed signs of chips and damage. Given these findings, it is likely that the bushings unseated themselves and migrated outward, resulting in imbalance, vibration, and the eventual failure of the No. 4 bushing and the subsequent total loss of engine power. A critical service bulletin (CSB) existed for the bushings that included augmented oil change procedures and inspections; however, the CSB was not adhered to, nor was it required to be due to the nature of the operation. The mechanic who had been maintaining the airplane assumed the procedures he was adhering to were sufficient, as they included routine oil changes at more frequent than recommended intervals, examination of the oil filter internal element, and having a laboratory analyze the engine’s used oil for the previous 14 months. The accident occurred 15 hours after the most recent oil change and the oil analysis report. Additionally, communications between the laboratory and mechanic, had indicated no substantive anomalies or other concerns indicating an imminent failure.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.