N146CK

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On August 4, 2010, about 0604 mountain standard time, a Cirrus SR-22 airplane, N146CK, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain adjacent to a building while on final approach to the Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT), Phoenix, Arizona. The airplane was registered to Magneto Investments LLC., Phoenix, and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The cross-country flight originated about 3 minutes prior to the time of the accident, with an intended destination of Tennessee.

Multiple witnesses located adjacent to the accident site reported observing the airplane bank to the left and descend in a nose low attitude.

A pilot-rated witness, located south of DVT, reported that while driving westbound on Deer Valley Road, he observed the accident airplane depart the runway [07L] to the east. The witness continued to watch the airplane turn left to a left downwind leg for the runway, and climb to an estimated altitude of about 500 feet above ground level (agl). The witness stated that he momentarily lost sight of the airplane until reestablishing visual contact with it, which was on base leg for runway 07. The witness noted that the airplane appeared to be traveling slow as it began a left turn to final for the runway. The witness further stated that the airplane appeared to have been "cranked to the left" and the "left wing stalled" as it entered a "left spin." The witness estimated that the airplane performed about a quarter turn spin prior to losing site of it below adjacent buildings. The witness further reported that shortly after losing sight of the airplane, he observed a plume of smoke and fire originating from the general area of where visual contact with the airplane was lost.

Review of recorded air traffic control tower radio communications revealed that the pilot was cleared to take off on runway 07L. About 34 seconds later, the pilot transmitted to the tower controller, "I need to return to close the door." The controller subsequently cleared the pilot to land on runway 07L and asked if he needed any assistance. The pilot acknowledged the landing clearance and declined additional assistance. No further radio transmissions were received from the pilot.

Review of recorded radar data revealed that the airplane departed runway 07L, and entered a left turn traffic pattern. The data depicted that the airplane ascended throughout the crosswind and downwind legs, to a maximum altitude of about 500 feet agl just prior to a left turn to base leg. A descent was then observed during the base leg and subsequent left turn to final, to an altitude of about 100 feet agl. The last recorded radar target was located about 460 feet northwest of the accident site and about 2,970 feet west northwest of the approach end of runway 07L.

Review of video recordings from a security camera located adjacent to the accident site revealed the accident airplane in a left wing low, nose down attitude prior to impact with the ground. In addition, the left cabin door was observed in an open position prior to impact.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, age 67, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, instrument airplane, and glider ratings. A third-class airman medical certificate issued on November 4, 2008, with the limitations stated "must wear corrective lenses for near and distant vision. Review of an insurance renewal form revealed that the pilot reported as of August 18, 2009, he had accumulated 2,535 hours of total flight time; 957 hours in the accident make model of airplane. Review of the pilot's personal logbook revealed that as of the most recent logbook entry, dated July 31, 2010, he had accumulated 2,692.2 total flight hours of which 52.4 were within the preceding 90 days to the accident.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The four-seat, low-wing, fixed-gear airplane, serial number (S/N) 3377, was manufactured in 2009. It was powered by a Teledyne Continental Motors IO-550-N (60) engine, serial number 1000383, and was equipped with a Hartzell three-bladed adjustable pitch propeller. The airplane is equipped with two cabin doors (left and right side respectively). Each cabin door is equipped with an upper and lower door latch. The lower latch release is directly controlled by a handle within the arm rest. A cable from the lower latch release mechanism extends to the upper latch. When the door handle is actuated, both the upper and lower latches will release.

The Pilot Operating Handbook's (POH) before takeoff checklist in section 4, Normal Procedures, page 4-13, outlines the before takeoff procedures. Item number one on the checklist states in part "...Doors......Latched."

The expanded procedure for a door open in flight found in section 3A of the POH, page 3A-2, Flight Environment, Door Open In Flight, states in part..."The doors on the aircraft will remain 1-3 inches open in flight if open. If discovered on takeoff roll, abort takeoff if practical. If already airborne: 1. Airspeed.......REDUCE TO 80 – 90 KIAS, 2. Land as soon as practical."

Review of copies of the airframe and engine maintenance logbook records showed an annual inspection was completed June 30, 2010, at a recorded HOBBS times of 294.4 hours, and an engine and airframe total time of 247.5 hours. The logbook entry for the annual inspection stated in part "...Adjusted doors at latches and strike points. IAW Cirrus MM 57-10. Operational check was good."

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

A review of recorded data from the Deer Valley Airport automated surface observation station (ASOS), revealed at 0553, conditions were wind from 080 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 86 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.89 inches of mercury.

AIRPORT INFORMATION

The Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT) is a tower-controlled airport with a field elevation of 1,478 feet msl. The airport is equipped with two asphalt runways, runway 07R/25L (8,197-foot long and 100-foot wide runway surface) and runway 07L/25R (4,508-foot long and 75-foot wide runway surface).

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

Examination of the accident site by the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) revealed that the airplane impacted an asphalt parking lot adjacent to a building structure about 2,570 feet west of the approach end of runway 07L. The main wreckage came to rest on a heading of about 354 degrees magnetic at an elevation of about 1,438 feet mean sea level (msl). Wreckage debris remained within an approximate 100-foot radius to the main wreckage. No impact related damage was observed on the building structure or surrounding trees around the perimeter of the parking lot. The main wreckage and surrounding area, including the building structure, exhibited fire damage.

Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuselage was mostly consumed by fire. The engine remained attached to the firewall and exhibited impact damage. The left and right wing remained attached to the fuselage and were mostly consumed by fire. Fiberglass and carbon fiber cloth remained from the wing skins, torque box structure, and main spar. The left outboard section of left wing was separated at the outboard end of the left flap, and was located adjacent to the main wreckage.

Control continuity was established from the cockpit controls to the left and right ailerons. The left aileron control cable was separated between the left wing root and the left aileron actuation pulley. The areas of separation exhibited splayed signatures, consistent with tension overload.

The vertical stabilizer remained attached to the empennage, and was mostly consumed by fire. The rudder was separated from the vertical stabilizer, and located adjacent to the vertical stabilizer. The rudder exhibited impact and fire damage. Rudder control cable continuity was established from the rudder to the cockpit controls.

The horizontal stabilizer remained attached to the empennage, and exhibited impact and fire damage. The left and right elevators remained attached to the horizontal stabilizer, and exhibited impact and fire damage. Elevator control cable continuity was established from the elevator control surfaces to the cockpit controls. The pitch trim setting was not determined due to impact and fire damage.

The left cabin door was separated from the fuselage, and was mostly consumed by fire. The upper and lower door latches were both observed in the open position. When actuated by hand, the lower latch would click shut and lock in the closed position. The latch could be opened by hand by moving the actuation arm at the door handle. Latch control cable continuity was established from the lower latch to the upper door latch. Damage was observed to the upper door latch, which prevented the normal range of motion of the upper door latch when actuated by hand. The upper latch could only be locked in place when pressure was added to the end of the upper rotary latch to assist in locking the latch in a closed position. Once locked, it was possible to unlatch the mechanism by applying pressure to the upper rotary arm to aid in moving the cable as would occur if full cable movement were possible.

The right cabin door was found separated from the airframe, and located about 15 feet to the right of the main wreckage. The upper door hinges remained attached to separated portions of the upper cabin roof structure. The upper and lower door latches were intact and undamaged. The door latches functioned normally by hand.

The baggage door was not observed, and was presumed to be consumed by fire.

The cabin area of the fuselage was mostly consumed by...