One Instructor At The Flight School Stated That The High Fuel Flow Was A Common Issue With The Airplane

Location: Boerne, Texas Accident Number: CEN24LA236
Date & Time: June 23, 2024, 09:06 Local Registration: N87AQ
Aircraft: Cirrus Design Corp SR22T Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (partial) Injuries: 3 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

Analysis: During takeoff, a crew alerting system (CAS) message for fuel flow illuminated. The flight instructor reported that the engine immediately began “sputtering” and did not provide sufficient power to climb. The flight instructor attempted to land the airplane on the remaining available runway but was unable to stop the airplane before it departed the end of the runway and impacted a fence, resulting in substantial damage to both wings.

Postaccident engine examination, which included an engine run, revealed that when the throttle was advanced to the full forward position, a fuel flow of about 44 gallons per hour (gph) and a manifold pressure of about 37 inches of mercury (inHg) were observed before the engine began experiencing fuel flows that were too high to support combustion. 

One instructor at the flight school stated that the high fuel flow was a common issue with the airplane. However, the flight instructor who was flying the airplane on the accident flight stated that he was not made aware of fuel flow related anomalies with the airplane before the accident.

After the accident, the fuel flow was adjusted and the engine operated with no anomalies noted.

The fuel flow was likely not properly set during recent maintenance, resulting in an excessively high fuel flow, an extremely rich mixture, a rough-running engine, and a partial loss of engine power.

Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- Maintenance personnel’s inadequate adjustment of fuel flow, which resulted in an excessively rich mixture, a rough-running engine, and a subsequent partial loss of engine power.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov