NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On August 17, 2007, at 2021 eastern daylight time, a Cirrus SR20, N869CD registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight deployed the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) after encountering instrument flight conditions (IFR) while descending to land at Nantucket Memorial Airport, Nantucket, Massachusetts. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed however a full weather briefing was obtained before departing on the visual flight rules flight. The airplane received substantial damage. The non-instrument rated private pilot received serious injuries and one passenger received minor injuries. The flight originated from Westchester County Airport, White Plains, New York, on August 17, 2007, at 1901.

The Nantucket Tower controller stated the pilot established initial radio contact at 2010. The controller informed the pilot to continue for runway 24 and pointed out traffic. The pilot reported at 2012 that he had the traffic in sight. At 2013, the controller received a PIREP of a " low layer forming above the approach to runway 24." The controller advised the pilot at 2014 that the airport was going IFR, and switched the pilot to Cape Approach. The pilot informed the controller that he was capable of executing the instrument landing system (ILS) approach.

Review of transcripts between the pilot and Cape Approach revealed the pilot made initial radio contact at 2015, and requested the ILS runway 24 approach at Nantucket. Cape Approach asked the pilot for his current heading and the pilot replied 150. The controller informed the pilot to continue on the heading and expect a left downwind for the ILS approach. The pilot asked the controller if he wanted him to climb, and the controller suggested 2,000 feet, and the pilot acknowledged the altitude.

The controller stated at 2016: 43, "November nine charlie delta confirm that you are IFR equipped and qualified." The pilot replied, " Nine Charlie delta we are uh IFR qualified." At 2016: 50, the controller instructed the pilot to climb and maintain 2,000 feet and to turn left heading 090. The pilot replied, "Nine Charlie delta two thousand turning right two nine zero." The controller replied at 2017:03, "November nine Charlie delta roger you're cleared to Nantucket via heading uh zero seven zero climb and maintain two thousand." The pilot replied, "Nine Charlie delta right uh zero seven zero at two thousand." The controller replied at 2017:54, "November nine Charlie delta turn left heading zero six zero expect the ILS approach runway two four advise with new ATIS kilo." The pilot replied, "Nine charlie delta turning right to zero six zero we will pick up kilo." The controller stated at 2018:06, "Nine charlie delta that's not a right turn sir should be a left turn left turn heading uh zero six zero looks like you went right on the last turn so just turn left a gradual left turn to zero six zero." The pilot replied, nine charlie delta a gradual left turn to zero six zero. At 2019:37 the controller asked the pilot to say his type of aircraft. The pilot replied at 2019:39, "Cirrus I had to pull the parachute." The controller replied, November nine charlie delta are you able to make it to the airport sir. The pilot stated, "No the parachute on the plane its going to come down." The controller replied at 2020:02, "November nine charlie delta roger low altitude alert check your altitude immediately and uh advise if you need any further assistance it appears that you are over land at this time." There were no other radio transmissions between the pilot and the controller.

The pilot told the NTSB investigator during an interview that he informed the controller that he was instrument-qualified because he was getting concerned. His wife was six months pregnant and he feared they would end up in the water. The pilot stated he was struggling to keep the airplane level; he was in instrument conditions in a black hole with out a visible horizon or ambient light. The pilot further stated, "I became spatially disoriented and pulled the chute." When the pilot was asked if there was anything mechanically wrong with the airplane or the flight instruments, the pilot stated no.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

Review of information on file with the FAA Airman's Certification Division, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, revealed the pilot was issued a private pilot certificate on April 12, 2004, with ratings for airplane single engine land. The pilot did not have an instrument rating. The pilot's last biennial flight review was conducted on March 25, 2007, in the SR20. The pilot held a third-class medical issued on April 24, 2007, with the restriction "must wear corrective lenses." The pilot indicated on his application for the third-class medical certificate he has 500 total flight hours.

Review of the pilot's logbook revealed that the pilot has 454.6 total flight hours of which 285.3 hours are in the SR20, and 245.5 hours are as pilot-in-command (PIC). The pilot's first flight in the SR20 was on April 16, 2004. The pilot had 34 hours of dual actual instrument flight time, and the last recorded dual instrument flight was on August 10, 2007. The pilot had 66.2 hours of simulated instrument time, and the last simulated instrument flight was conducted on July 25, 2007. The pilot had 40.6 hours of night flight time, and the last recorded dual night flight was on July 25, 2007. The pilot had flown 26.9 hours in the last 90 days, of which 0.2 hours were night dual flight, 1.5 hours of dual instrument flight, and 6.1 hours of dual simulated instrument flight. The pilot had flown 11.9 hours in the last 30 days, of which 0.2 hours were night dual flight, 1.5 hours of actual dual instruments, and 1.5 hours of dual simulated instruments. The pilot attended the Cirrus factory-training course from April 17, 2004 through April 18, 2004. The pilot received 7 hours of ground instruction, and 13.4 hours of dual flight instruction.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

Review of the airplane logbooks revealed the last recorded annual inspection was conducted on January 12, 2007, and the Hobbs time was 330.3 hours. The Hobbs meter at the crash site read 370.5 hours and the airplane has flown 140.2 hours since the last annual inspection. The altimeter, encoder, and static system test were conducted on February 1, 2006. The pilot purchased 35 gallons of 100-low lead fuel at West Air, White Plains, New York, on August 11, 2007, seven days before the accident.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

The Nantucket Memorial Airport 1953 surface weather observation was: wind 220-degrees at 7 knots, visibility 6 statute miles, clear, temperature 68-degrees Fahrenheit, dew point temperature 62-degrees Fahrenheit, and altimeter 29.82.

A Special weather observation was issued at 2018. The wind was 220-degrees at 8 knots, visibility 1 statute mile in light rain and mist, vertical visibility 100 feet, temperature 68-degrees Fahrenheit, dew point temperature 66-degrees Fahrenheit, and altimeter 29.82. Remarks: automated observation, rain began 2017, hourly precipitation less than 0.01 inches. Three special weather observations were issued at 2025, 2045, and 2050.

Review of the US Naval Observatory Sun and Moon Data for Nantucket County Memorial Airport at the time of the accident revealed a, " waxing crescent with 20-percent of the moon's visible disk illuminated.

The pilot of N869D obtained a full weather briefing at 1135, for the VFR flight from Westchester to Nantucket. The pilot obtained a follow up weather briefing before departing Westchester County Airport at 1816. The briefer informed the pilot that the first batch of storms went through New York, and dissipated with some rain, " but if you take off at this point uh nothing but a little light rain on the route." The pilot did not receive updated weather while en-route to Nantucket.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The wreckage was located in the vicinity of a United States Coast Guard loran signal tower adjacent to a residence in Siassconset Massachusetts, and 5 miles southeast of the Nantucket Memorial Airport. The airplane collided with a guy wire supporting the 650-foot tall loran signal tower on a heading of 040-degrees magnetic. Two pieces of parachute material were observed entangled on one of the loran guy wires. The airplane came to rest on a heading of 323-degrees magnetic.

The upper and lower engine cowling was partially separated from the airframe. The engine assembly was partially separated from the firewall and displaced to the left about 20-degrees. Both upper engine mount welds separated between the firewall bolt attachment points and the first welded joint along the steel tubing. The lower two engine mounts remained attached to the firewall. The lower left section of the firewall was displaced aft, and the lower right side of the firewall was displaced in the forward direction and to the left. All engine accessories remained attached to the engine except for the starter, No. 2 alternator and right magneto. The fuel supply line to the fuel distribution manifold was disconnected and fuel was present in the fuel line. The nose wheel assembly separated from the nose landing gear strut at the fishmouth. The nose wheel was located in a 5-inch hole 7-feet in front of the wreckage.

The engine was equipped with an engine monitoring system. The primary flight display (PFD) and the internal compact flash memory module from the multi-function display (MFD) were removed and sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory for further examination. Examination revealed the PFD and the MFD memory card were not damaged. A binary copy of the memory card was made in the NTSB laboratory, and the copy was read out using a bench MFD. The PFD was connected to a bench MFD and downloaded. The raw PFD download file was sent to the manufacturer for decoding into ASCII text. The decoded file was sorted in the NTSB laboratory, organizing it by each data type and the PFD power cycle to group similar records together, and depicts the airplane's flight data and ground track according to the global positioning unit (GPS) positions stored in the PFD logs for the accident flight. In addition, the MFD flash memory card was downloaded and depicts various engine parameters. The PFD has a logging function which reflects the instrument recordings for the accident flight, which can also be used by the manufacturer for maintenance and diagnostics.

The propeller assembly remained attached to the propeller crankshaft flange, and the propeller spinner was damaged on the lower side in the vicinity of the propeller blade root area. One propeller blade exhibited leading edge polishing and chord wise scratching was present on the cambered side of the propeller blade. Additional polishing was observed 16-inches inboard of the propeller tip-extending chord wise from the leading edge of the propeller blade aft about 1-inch. The non-cambered side of the propeller blade was not damaged. The remaining propeller blade had chord wise scratching present across the white tip striping of the propeller blade, and the scratches were brown in color. The non-cambered side of the propeller blade was not damaged.

The cabin area was intact from the firewall extending aft to two-feet aft of the CAPS enclosure. All cabin and door windows remained intact. The right cabin door remained attached to the airframe. The left cabin door was separated from the airframe by first responders. The baggage compartment door was locked. The cabin roof was not damaged. The CAPS activation handle was out of its holder and hung down by its cable about 2 to 3-inches. The activation handle holder was bent downwards. The "Remove Before Flight" safety pin for the activation handle was found stowed in the left front cabin footwell sidewall netting. The forward belly section of the fuselage was crushed and distorted. Aft floor damage was noted in the area of the aft wing attachment points. A Garmin 396 GPS was located in the cabin area and forwarded to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory for further examination. Examination of the GPS revealed it was not damaged. The unit was powered up and no track log was recorded on the date of the accident.

Movement of the control yokes confirmed continuity of the linkages connecting the control yokes to the console aileron activation pulley. The aileron control cable system continuity was confirmed from the console aileron actuation pulley through the forward pulley gang, the rudder-aileron interconnect, the kick out pulleys, the left and right aileron actuation pulleys and the cross over pulleys.

The CAPS strap covers were debonded from the fuselage after the CAPS system was deployed. The left and right front harnesses and rear attachment harnesses were intact and not damaged. The parachute risers were intact and not damaged. The slider was present and showed no slider stop signatures, and some suspension lines were separated. Examination of the parachute canopy revealed some damage and tearing from the apex downwards towards the skirt of the parachute. The parachute deployment bag was located near the base of the loran signal tower and was not damaged. The lanyards and incremental bridal sheath exhibited a brownish discoloration. All but 5 bartack stitches were unzipped. The 6th bartack stitch was beginning to unzip. The rocket motor case was located near the deployment bag separate of the pick-up collar. Longitudinal abrasions were present on the rocket collar. The nozzle had separated from the aft motor bulkhead and was loose in the rocket motor case. The aft motor bulkhead was removed. Visual examination of the rocket motor case revealed the propellant grains were fully expended. The rocket motor, pick-up collar, and deployment back were secured by the FAA for further examination by Cirrus. Examination of these components revealed no anomalies.

The wing was attached to the fuselage at the spar tunnel and was not damaged. The upper and lower right wing skins were damaged. The right flap was damaged, not extended, and remained attached to all three-hinge points. The right aileron remained attached at the outboard and inboard hinge points. The right main fuel tank had about 5 gallons of fuel present. The right fuel cap was intact with a tight seal, and the fuel tank was ruptured. First responders reported that fuel was leaking from the airplane at the crash site. The right main landing gear remained attached to the wing.

The empennage was separated two-feet aft of the CAPS enclosure and was located perpendicular to the fuselage connected by control cables and electrical wires. The horizontal stabilizer upper skin was buckled chordwise at about the right elevator midspan hinge point. The right and left elevator remained attached to the horizontal stabilizer at their respective hinge points. The left elevator was buckled chord wise at mid-span, and the elevator tip was damaged. The right elevator was not damaged. Movement of the control yoke confirmed continuity of the linkage to the bell crank weld on the elevator torque tube. Elevator control continuity was confirmed from the bell crank through the forward pulley gang, and the rudder elevator pulley gang to the elevator empennage bell crank. Continuity of the elevator push-pull rod was confirmed from the elevator empennage bell crank to the elevator assembly.

The vertical stabilizer was intact. The rudder separated from the vertical stabilizer at mid-span and top hinge points. Rudder control cable continuity was confirmed from the rudder pedal torque tubes through the forward pulley gang, the rudder interconnect, and the rudder-elevator pulley gang to the rudder empennage bell crank. Continuity of the rudder push-pull rod was confirmed from the rudder empennage bell crank to the rudder assembly.

The wing was attached to the fuselage at the spar tunnel and was buckled aft along the length of the cuffed section of the wing. The upper left wing skins was buckled inboard of the wing cuff extending 45-degrees aft and outboard towards the left aileron. The upper and lower wing skins were partially disbonded from the torque box in the cuffed area of the wing. The left flap

NTSB Probable Cause

The non-instrument rated pilot's loss of control at night in instrument flight conditions due to spatial disorientation. A factor was the pilot's in-flight decision not to inform the controller that he was not instrument rated.