Incident Summary
On January 11, 2020, about 1720 central standard time, a Piper PA-46-350P, registration N350XL, was substantially damaged during an accident near Bandera, Texas. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Pilot Actions
The pilot reported a normal takeoff from San Antonio International Airport (SAT) on an Instrument Flight Rules flight plan. While climbing to 24,000 ft, he heard a sound like metal rubbing against metal, which subsided. During descent, a white CAS message reading "AVI FAN Fail" appeared on the primary flight display (PFD). The pilot consulted the Garmin G1000 reference guide; the white color indicated an advisory message. While referencing the manual, smoke entered the cabin from the front of the cockpit. Suspecting an electrical fire, the pilot disconnected the autopilot, lowered the landing gear, turned off the battery master switch, dumped cabin pressure, and activated the emergency switch. He also pulled the hydraulic pump circuit breaker as a precaution. The passenger read the emergency checklist for an electrical fire, and the pilot transmitted a mayday call. The pilot located the nearest airport about 13 miles away but, due to persistent smoke and burning eyes, decided to land without delay. A red "X" appeared on the manifold pressure gauge, and the airplane descended faster than expected. At about 3,000-4,000 ft MSL, with terrain between 1,000-2,000 ft AGL, the pilot chose a flat field ahead. He crossed a fence, added flaps, and landed, but the airplane was too fast. To avoid a fence and trees, he rotated, cleared the obstacles, turned right, and landed on an adjacent roadway. The right wing struck a roadway signpost, causing the airplane to spin 90 degrees and come to rest with the nose against a guardrail. The pilot and passenger exited and called for assistance. The outboard section of the right wing sustained substantial damage.
Examination Findings
After recovery, the airplane's avionics were powered, and each electrical system was examined, including the avionics cooling fans. The pilot's side fan did not operate when connected to power. Disassembly revealed thermal damage and discoloration on the circuit board. A National Transportation Safety Board fire specialist concluded that such thermal damage would likely produce smoke irritating to the eyes, consistent with the pilot's report. No other damage or electrical anomalies were found.