NTSB Factual Report

On April 10, 2016, at 1534 central daylight time, a Cirrus SR20 airplane, N8PY, exited the end of the runway after a precautionary landing at Caldwell Municipal Airport (RWV), Caldwell, Texas. The private pilot and three passengers were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to Second Chance Wings LLC and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated with visual flight rules flight following.

According to the pilot, while en route he started to feel an unusual vibration and noise that seemed to originate from the engine. The engine rpm became erratic and the airplane became harder to control due to the vibrations. He contacted air traffic control and reported the difficulty he was experiencing with the airplane. The pilot did not want to declare an emergency and air traffic control informed the pilot that the closest airfield (RWV) was 6 miles behind his current direction. As the pilot proceeded to the airport, he reported that the engine "seemed to be starting and stopping" or sputtering. The pilot did not see the airport quick enough for a straight in approach, so he circled the airport to land on runway 15. During the circle, the engine sputtering got worse. Prior to touching down on the 3,252-ft long runway, the pilot reported that the engine sputtered to a stop and the pilot then slipped the airplane to the runway. He flared the airplane and touched down with about 60% runway remaining (about 1,950 ft) and at a higher than normal approach speed. The airplane bounced and touched down again near mid-field. Using full braking action, the pilot was unable to keep the airplane on the runway and it overran the runway and collided with a tree and a fence.

An examination of the engine found that the exhaust pipe had fractured from the No. 5 cylinder. No additional preimpact anomalies were detected with the engine that would have precluded normal operation.

The airplane was equipped with an Avidyne Primary Flight Display and Multifunction Flight Display. Data recorded by these devices was downloaded and reviewed. On the accident flight, the No. 5 cylinder exhaust gas temperature (EGT) was consistently lower than the other cylinders, while the cylinder head temperatures were all similar. At 1525:48, No. 5 EGT was 1290° Fahrenheit (F) and at 1525:54, the EGT decreased to 93° F and continued to rapidly decrease. Between 1525:54 and 1532:30, engine rpm fluctuated between 2,080 and 2,400 rpm, fuel flow varied between 9 and 14 gallons per hour (GPH), and manifold pressure varied between 24 and 26 inches of mercury (inHg). Between 1532:36 and 1533:00, rpm stabilized about 1890, fuel flow varied between 6 and 8 GPH, and manifold pressure was between 21 and 23 inHg. Between 1533:24 and 1533:54, engine rpm decreased from 1,880 to 1,300, fuel flow remained constant at 2 GPH, and manifold pressure varied from 7 to 12 inHg. Altitude data put the airplane's touch down between 1533:42 and 1533:54. At 1534:00, engine rpm was 40, fuel flow was 0, and manifold pressure was 30 inHg.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the No. 5 cylinder's exhaust pipe for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s fast and long landing, which led to a runway overrun.