NTSB Factual Report

On October 3, 2017, about 1521 Pacific daylight time, a Cirrus Design Corp SR22, N418CP, sustained substantial damage during an emergency landing after a reported loss of engine power near the Blythe Airport (BLH) Blythe, California. The flight instructor and commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to Clayisawesome LLC, and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the instructional cross-country flight. The flight departed Camarillo Airport, Camarillo, California, about 1330, with a planned destination of Safford Regional Airport, Safford, Arizona.

According to the flight instructor, the flight was to reposition the airplane to a new owner and to provide advanced transition training to the pilot onboard. After an uneventful takeoff, they climbed and leveled off at a cruise altitude of about 11,500 ft mean sea level. About 1.5 hours into the flight, the oil pressure started to decrease, and they decided to divert to BLH. Inbound to BLH, the oil pressure continued to decrease until it indicated less than 5 psi. Shortly thereafter, the engine completely lost power. Unable to make the runway, they elected to activate the airplane's parachute system. The parachute system was successfully deployed inflight, and upon ground impact, the airplane was dragged for about 20 ft before they could egress from the airplane.

Postaccident examination of the airplane by the NTSB investigator-in-charge revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and engine firewall. The airplane was recovered to a secure storage facility for further examination.