At 2,000 Ft He Deployed The CAPS And The Airplane Slowly Descended To The Water

Location: Lexington, SC Accident Number: ERA22LA109
Date & Time: January 13, 2022, 13:26 Local Registration: N879CD
Aircraft: Cirrus Design Corp SR22 Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On January 13, 2022, about 1326 eastern standard time, a Cirrus SR-22, N879CD, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lexington, South Carolina. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the pilot, a preflight inspection of the airplane was conducted with no anomalies noted. He stated, “I checked the oil quantity and added one quart of oil.” The pilot conducted a run-up and departed for Charleston Air Force Base/International Airport (CHS), Charleston, South Carolina, on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan about 1300. About 20 minutes into the flight, at 5,500 ft, the pilot reported seeing a red oil annunciator light illuminate, followed by the oil pressure gauge fall to zero pressure. The pilot stated that the engine tachometer was near red line and that the engine sounded like it was over speeding, so he reduced the throttle to slow the engine. He radioed air traffic control and reported an emergency, then started looking for a place to land. He was over the middle of Lake Murray, so he held off deploying the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) until he was closer to the shoreline. At 2,000 ft he deployed the CAPS and the airplane slowly descended to the water, the airplane floated for a few minutes before the wind started to push it away from the shoreline, so the pilot and passenger dove off the wing and swam to the shoreline.

A post-accident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and left elevator. Additionally, the engine exhibited a hole on the top of the case near the No. 6 cylinder.

The wreckage was retained for further examination.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov