Interesting Details Start Emerging

NTSB Identification: ATL06LA035
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, January 13, 2006 in Childersburg, AL
Aircraft: Cirrus SR22, registration: N87HK
Injuries: 3 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On January 13, 2006, at 1601 central standard time (CST), a Cirrus SR22, N87HK, registered to Trench Shoaring Systems Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 business flight, had an in flight loss of control while climbing in instrument flight conditions in the vicinity of Childersburg, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The airline transport rated pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. The flight departed Birmingham International Airport, Birmingham, Alabama, enroute to Orlando, Florida, on January 13, 2006, at 1544.

The pilot stated he obtained a full weather briefing before departing Birmingham using the Direct User Access Terminal computer system. Icing conditions were forecast between 8,000 to 10,000 feet. The pilot filed his flight plan for a cruising altitude of 7,000 feet. The pilot stated the airplane is not equipped with de-icing boots, and is not certified for flight into icing conditions. The pilot was not aware of the National Weather Service Airmet that was in effect from 1445 CST to 2100 CST. The advisory warned of occasional moderate to mixed icing-in-clouds and in-precipitation between 3,000 and 8,000 feet.

The pilot stated he departed from runway 24 and was instructed by the control tower to contact Birmingham Approach Control. The pilot contacted approach control and the airplane was identified in radar contact while climbing through 1,500 feet. The controller informed the pilot to proceed direct to Hande intersection and the flight was subsequently cleared to climb to 7,000 feet. The pilot stated the airplane entered the clouds at 5,000 feet and his climb speed was 120 knots. Upon reaching 7,000 feet the airplane encountered icing conditions. The pilot informed the controller of the icing conditions and was cleared to climb to 9,000 feet. The pilot stated he did not know what the minimum obstruction clearance altitude was in relation to his position when he was cleared to 9,000 feet. As the airplane reached the clouds tops at 8,000 feet in visual flight conditions, the airplane began to buffet. The pilot looked at his airspeed indicator and it indicated 80 knots. The airplane stalled, the nose pitched down, and the airplane started spinning to the left while reentering instrument flight conditions. The pilot reduced power, neutralized the flight controls, and applied right rudder with negative results. He activated the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System, and the parachute system deployed. The pilot informed the controller he had deployed the parachute, squawked emergency on the transponder, provided latitude and longitude coordinates of his location on the radio, and initiated an engine shut down. The airplane descended to the ground under the parachute canopy, collided with trees, and came to a complete stop about four feet above the ground. All personnel exited the airplane and the 911 emergency operators were contacted on a cell phone. Emergency personnel arrived and the pilot and two passengers were transported to a local area fire department.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20060118X00086&key=1