NTSB Factual Report

On June 8, 2009, about 2015 eastern daylight time, a Cirrus SR22, N34TG, experienced an engine failure near Elkin, North Carolina. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained minor damage. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the event.

The pilot stated that he was in cruise flight at an altitude of 6,000 feet mean sea level (msl), when he heard a loud bang followed by a violent vibration of the airplane. He said that prior to this event, all engine instruments were in the normal operating range. He contacted air traffic control and requested to be vectored to the nearest airport, Elkin Municipal Airport. The airplane continued to vibrate violently, oil began to flow over the windshield, and forward vision was lost. The pilot decided to activate the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) at an altitude of 6,000 feet msl, and the airplane descended under the parachute into a cornfield.

The pilot, age 63, holds a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. His certificate was updated on March 30, 2007. The pilot's most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third-class medical certificate was issued on January 16, 2009, with limitations for lenses for near vision. The pilot reported 2,531 total flight hours, with 900 flight hours in the SR22.

The four seat, low-wing, fixed gear airplane, serial number (S/N) 0386, was manufactured in 2002. It was powered by a Continental IO-550-N7, 310 horsepower engine and equipped with a Hartzell three-bladed propeller. Review of the aircraft logbook revealed that the most recent annual inspection was conducted on October 30, 2008, at an airplane total time of 876.4 hours. The current Hobbs time indicated 928.9 hours.

Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the airplane descended through trees into a cornfield. The airframe and flight control system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The examination of the engine revealed it had a 6-inch diameter hole at the top rear of the engine case, below the right magneto. The right magneto was broken away from its mount. Fragments of the No. 2 piston were located externally on the engine case. Examination of the oil quantity revealed that the engine still had 4 quarts of engine oil remaining in the sump.

The engine was removed by Precision Air Incorporated and sent to Teledyne Continental Motors to be examined under NTSB oversight. During the examination of the engine; fragments of the No. 2 piston, rings, and pin boss were found throughout the engine case and oiling system. All of these fragments were collected, and the remainder of the piston assembly was removed for further examination. The fragments, along with the No. 2 piston assembly were sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for examination.

The metallurgical examination revealed that the No. 2 piston failed due to a fatigue crack that originated adjacent to the pin in the pin boss area. The exact location of the fatigue crack and the cause of fatigue crack initiation could not be determined due to extensive damage in the area of origin. During the examination of the engine, no other valve train abnormalities were noted within the engine.

NTSB Probable Cause

A total loss of engine power due to the failure of the No. 2 piston as a result of a fatigue crack of undetermined origin.