What happened
On November 14, 2013, a Cirrus SR2SS, registration PR-LVB, departed from Blumenau (SSBL) bound for Bacacheri (SBBI) for a private passenger flight. Approximately 18 minutes into the flight, while leveled at 6,500 feet, the Continental IO-550-N engine began to fail and eventually stopped completely.
In response to the engine failure, the pilot executed the emergency procedures outlined in the aircraft manual, which included the deployment of the ballistic parachute. During the descent, the aircraft struck three trees before reaching the ground near Estrada Ribeirão do Salto, in Guaramirim, SC. Despite the substantial damage to the engine, wing leading edges, wing spar, propeller, and right landing gear, the pilot and two passengers were uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the engine. The Continental engine was disassembled and inspected by specialists, with oversight from CENIPA and Continental representatives. While the extent of the damage prevented a definitive conclusion regarding the initial cause of the failure, technical analysis by the Institute of Aeronautics and Space (IAE) established that the failure originated in cylinder number 1.
Data retrieved from the aircraft's Garmin 430 unit revealed that cylinder number 1 had been operating abnormally since engine start. Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) readings for that cylinder fluctuated between 540°F and 720°F, significantly below the minimum required temperature of 1,250°F specified in the flight manual. This temperature abnormality was visible to the pilot on the engine monitoring display prior to takeoff.
Findings
- The failure originated in the first cylinder of the engine.
- Pilot judgment was a contributing factor, as the pilot elected to proceed with takeoff and flight despite instrument readings indicating that cylinder number 1 was not reaching the minimum EGT required by the manual.