Accident Overview
On October 12, 2018, at about 1045 central daylight time, a Cirrus SR22, registration N729TG, impacted a parking lot shortly after departing Midland Airpark (MDD) in Midland, Texas. The airplane was operated by TJG Equipment, LLC under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a cross-country flight. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged.
According to the pilot, after departure and at about 500 ft above ground level, the engine surged. The pilot turned back toward the airport, and the engine lost power. Recognizing the airplane would not reach the airport, the pilot deployed the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). The airplane descended under the parachute into a parking lot, where it struck a parked automobile.
Engine Examination
The airplane was recovered to a salvage facility. An engine examination was conducted by the NTSB Investigator in Charge (IIC) with technical representatives from the engine and airframe manufacturers. Visual inspection and borescope examination revealed a damaged propeller and minor exhaust system damage. A replacement propeller was installed, and a fuel can was plumbed into the fuel system for an engine test run. The engine started without hesitation and was operated at about 1,000 rpm to reach operating temperatures. During full-throttle operation, manifold pressure stabilized at 39 inHg and fuel flow reached 49 gph; engine manufacturer specifications call for 36.6 inHg and 37.5 gph, with Cirrus specifying a 40.5 gph limit.
After the test run, the turbocharger controller and wastegate actuator were removed and sent to the manufacturer for additional testing. During removal, the wastegate valve appeared "stuck"; after moving it, the valve appeared to operate normally.
The engine was later removed and shipped to the manufacturer's facility for a test cell run. With NTSB and manufacturer representatives present, the engine was run at various power settings. Fuel flows were high, causing rough running but not total power loss. A small amount of black smoke was observed during portions of the test. After adjustments that lowered fuel flow, the engine ran normally without smoke or roughness.
System Testing
The wastegate actuator and turbocharger controller were bench tested at Hartzell's Engine Technologies (HET) facility in Montgomery, Alabama, with representatives from the NTSB, FAA, and HET. Both units operated normally with no discrepancies noted that would affect normal performance.
The airplane's parachute was removed and sent to Cirrus for performance and conformity inspections.
Data and Maintenance Records
The airplane's recoverable data module (RDM) was downloaded. Data from the accident flight and previous flights showed high fuel flow, near or above the maximum limit. Review of maintenance records revealed an entry dated July 18, 2018, setting manifold pressure to 36.5 inHg, fuel flow to 41 gph, and rpm to 2,500 per Cirrus aircraft maintenance manual 5-30. No subsequent entries indicated that fuel flow was later changed.
Cirrus support publications include Service Advisory SA19-01, addressing high boost/prime mode avoidance below 10,000 ft, and Service Bulletin SB2x-42-17, which provides a 10,000 ft altitude lockout feature and a high fuel flow CAS message at 42 gph.