What happened
On January 7, 2012, a Cirrus Design Corp. SR22, registration N723EA, was conducting a personal flight from Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport (TMB) in Miami, Florida, to Toussaint Louverture International Airport (MTPP) in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The flight departed Miami at approximately 1217 eastern standard time.
During the flight, which was operating under visual flight rules (VFR) in visual meteorological conditions, the pilot observed the oil pressure dropping from the mid-40 psi range into the 30 psi range. The pilot subsequently diverted toward Andros Island, Bahamas, and declared an emergency. The pilot reported that the oil pressure eventually dropped to zero, causing the engine to shake and subsequently seize.
After determining that the aircraft could not reach Andros Island, the pilot deployed the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) at an altitude of approximately 2,200 feet. The aircraft descended into the water, striking the surface flat and firmly. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, but the pilot and one passenger were not injured. Both occupants, who were wearing inflatable life jackets, evacuated the aircraft into a life raft and were later rescued.
Prior to the accident flight, the aircraft had undergone an annual inspection involving extensive maintenance and had been test-flown by another pilot the previous day. On the day of the accident, the pilot also performed a test flight in the traffic pattern at TMB and reported no discrepancies.