TSB Report on Sept 2010 Cirrus SR22 Accident that killed 3

Source: Calgary Sun

 The Transportation Safety Board has released its report on the fatal accident that occurred in September 2010 involving a Cirrus SR22 Accident that killed 3.

The cause of the accident is not known, however the investigators determined that the plane stalled, recovered and entered a spiral dive that was not recovered from before impacting the ground - the pilot did not deployed the airplane parachute system.

Read the full TSB report here.
Read more reports from the Transportation Safety Board

Excerpts from the report:

Synopsis

The privately operated Cirrus Design Corporation SR22 (registration C-FGLA, serial number 1681) was on a round robin, visual flight rules flight from the Calgary/Springbank Airport to the area of Sundre, Alberta, with 3 persons on board. About 5 nautical miles northwest of Sundre, the aircraft entered a steep turning descent from about 1600 feet above the ground, striking the ground in a field at 1347, Mountain Daylight Time. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a severe post-impact fire. No emergency locator transmitter signal was received. The 3 occupants were fatally injured.
 
Analysis

The deceleration of C-FGLA after the turn to the southwest, accompanied by a slight descent, is consistent with the engine operating at a reduced power setting, and with the pilot attempting to maintain a more or less constant altitude. The slight loss of altitude and variation in heading suggests that the autopilot was disengaged.

Source: Global News

The airspeed deteriorated to the point of aerodynamic stall, which was followed by entry to a spin to the right with a heading change of 90°. The aircraft behaviour in the continued descent indicates an over-recovery into a spiral dive in the opposite direction which featured rapid rotation, speed build-up and increasing positive vertical g loading. Insufficient altitude remained for recovery. The debris field and ground scars indicate that most of the rotation was stopped and a pull-up had begun immediately before the aircraft struck the ground at high speed in a nose down, slight left wing down attitude.
The investigation considered several factors to explain the reason for the reduction in power and the subsequent loss of control. Weather conditions and aircraft performance were not considered to have been factors.

Findings as to Causes and Contributing Factors

1. For undetermined reasons, the aircraft decelerated to the point of aerodynamic stall, followed by entry into a spin.
2. The aircraft recovered from the initial spin entry and entered a spiral dive from which recovery was not accomplished before ground impact.
3. For undetermined reasons, the Cirrus Aircraft Parachute System was not activated after the aircraft departed controlled flight.