Accident Details
On January 7, 2017, at approximately 0951:32 mountain standard time, a Cirrus SR22, registration N5VK, executed a forced landing on a snow-covered plateau near Meeker, Colorado, following a loss of engine power. The pilot and his passenger were uninjured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Provo Airport (PVU), Utah, at 0821:35, with an intended destination of Meadow Lake Airport (FLY) in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, the airplane was fueled to capacity at PVU, and both pre-flight and pre-takeoff checks were normal. Shortly after reaching cruise altitude, the pilot observed erratic cylinder head temperature (CHT) and exhaust gas temperature (EGT) indications on the multifunction display (MFD). The pilot reported a previous issue with the sensory input unit (SIU) and therefore relied on the analog gauges, which displayed normal temperatures. Subsequently, the engine backfired, and the pilot sensed a loss of power. Due to high terrain ahead, he initiated a climb. Passing 12,600 feet, the engine lost additional power. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot began a shallow descent. Realizing he could not reach any nearby airports, he searched for a suitable landing area. He chose not to deploy the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) because of the rough terrain. He sighted a plateau and landed gear-up in deep snow. The emergency locator transmitter (ELT) activated, and the pilot attempted communication on 121.5 MHz without reply. About 90 minutes later, an airplane circled overhead and rocked its wings; another aircraft circled for an hour before departing. Two rescue helicopters subsequently arrived and transported the pilot and his wife to a hospital. The pilot reported no injuries, attributing their safety to 4-point restraint systems.
Wreckage Examination
Approximately two months after the accident, the airplane was removed from the plateau and transported to Air Transport in Phoenix, Arizona. The wings had been removed for transport; they were noted to be breached during the accident and were stored upside down with fuel fittings exposed. On March 7, 2017, the wreckage was examined and the engine was functionally tested under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, with representatives from Cirrus Design and Continental Motors present. The inspector observed no shearing of the fuel pump spline, compression in all cylinders, and spark from all spark plugs. The airframe fuel gascolator contained debris and rust, and a large quantity of water flowed from the wings when moved. A surrogate gascolator was installed, and an external fuel supply was connected to the left wing root fuel line. A two-bladed test club propeller was fitted, and the engine started. At 2,300 rpm and 10 inches of manifold pressure, all engine instruments were within normal ranges. During the examination, damage to the propeller governor cable was noted; the cable conduit end had separated from the rubber boot and was pushed forward, exposing damaged cable. Whether this damage occurred before or after impact could not be determined.
Data and Fuel Analysis
The primary flight display (PFD) from the Garmin GNS430 GPS navigator and the MFD engine log data were sent to Avidyne for download. Avidyne reported that the takeoff roll began at 0821:35 from PVU's runway 13, with liftoff at 0821:52, and the landing occurred at 0951:32. Data recorded between these times and from previous flights were truncated and of questionable validity. Fuel samples taken from both PVU and FLY were analyzed; no contaminants were found, and no other pilots reported power losses after refueling at those locations.
Probable Cause
Not stated in the source.