Cirrus Design CORP SR22 accident near Houston, Texas, July 7, 2015
On July 7, 2015 at about 4:37 pm local time, a 2007 Cirrus Design CORP SR22, registered N422PB, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Houston, Texas (George Bush Intercontinental/H airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Maintenance personnel's improper installation of the propeller governor, which resulted in damage to the governor drive gear and its subsequent failure and a subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 2015 · about 4:37 pm local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · George Bush Intercontinental/H · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus Design CORP SR22, built 2007
- Registration
- N422PB · no longer on the register · serial 2379
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Before the accident flight, maintenance personnel removed the airplane's propeller governor, checked it for proper operation, and reinstalled it on the engine. The airline transport pilot and passenger departed on the business flight. The pilot reported that, during initial climb, he noticed increasing engine temperature, so he reduced engine power to lower the engine temperature. When the airplane was about 900 ft above ground level, the engine lost partial power and, shortly thereafter, lost total power. With no suitable forced landing area, the airframe ballistic parachute system was deployed, and the airplane impacted terrain next to a residence and sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the engine found that the propeller governor drive gear was fractured, and the gear teeth exhibited damage consistent with the governor drive gear being misaligned. A bench test performed on the governor revealed that it operated within the specified parameters for the unit. The examination also noted the governor washers were improperly stacked; however, this likely did not contribute to the engine failure. A review of engine performance data for the accident flight revealed that the engine rpm reached at least 3,500 rpm during initial climb, which is 800 rpm over the maximum engine speed; it is likely this overspeed condition occurred as a result of the governor drive gear fracturing. The governor drive gear was likely damaged during the installation of the propeller governor, which subsequently failed during takeoff and allowed the engine to overspeed and overheat to the point of losing power.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Miscellaneous/other during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Propeller system › Propeller governor › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Propeller system › Propeller governor › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550-N (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Airccs LLC
The flight
- Departed from: IAH Houston TX
- Destination: AUS Austin TX
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 15L, 12,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from KIAH, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on March 27, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Statements | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Maintenance Records (Excerpts) | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Cockpit Displays - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Cockpit Displays - Attachment 1 (Tabular Data) - PFD | data file | Download |
| 5 | Cockpit Displays - Attachment 2 (Tabular Data) - MFD | data file | Download |
| 6 | Exam Reports (Excerpts) | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.
