Pilot Looked Up And Saw Light White Smoke Coming From Around The Propeller Spinner

Location: Tulsa, OK Incident Number: CEN24LA308
Date & Time: August 3, 2024, 13:00 Local Registration: N825JC
Aircraft: Cirrus Design Corp SR22T Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Ferry

On August 3, 2024, at 1300 central daylight time, a Cirrus SR22T, N825JC, was involved in an incident near Tulsa, Oklahoma. The airplane sustained unknown damage. The pilot was uninjured. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a ferry flight.

Prior to the ferry flight, an engine was installed onto the airplane by an airframe and powerplant mechanic with inspection authorization. The engine installation also included the installation of Alternator 1 and Alternator 2. The mechanic was not affiliated with a certificated aircraft repair station or Cirrus Aircraft. A runup of the engine was performed by the mechanic, and a maintenance check flight was not performed prior to the ferry flight. The ferry pilot flew the airplane from Tulsa Riverside Airport, Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Tulsa International Airport (TUS), Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the airplane’s parachute was to be repacked. The ferry flight arrived at TUS without incident, where the pilot parked and shutdown the airplane on a fixed base operator ramp. While the pilot was still seated in the airplane, line personnel saw smoke coming from the engine compartment. The pilot looked up and saw light white smoke coming from around the propeller spinner. As the pilot exited the airplane, he saw an increase in smoke and a change in its color to a darker color. The pilot looked into the louvered vents under the engine compartment and saw electrical arching and smoke. The pilot did not see any fire. The pilot called the fire department and sprayed halon through the louvered vents. Line personnel sprayed a dry multipurpose extinguisher into the airplane’s engine oil access door. 

Two fire department trucks then arrived and took control of the scene. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that Alternator 1 (Plane Power, model number ES10024, serial number H-X092248) had external wire connections that were not in accordance with Cirrus Airplane Maintenance Manual Models SR22 and SR22T. 

An airplane logbook entry by the mechanic, dated August 10, 2023, at an hour meter of 1,122.4 hours, stated that a rebuilt engine and both alternators were installed. An airplane logbook entry by the mechanic, dated July 22, 2024, at an hour meter of 1,138.1 hours, stated the engine was removed due to a loss of oil pressure, a rebuilt engine was installed, and both alternators were installed.

The airplane battery and associated wiring sustained thermal damage. The airplane was retained for further examination and determination of damage to the firewall.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov