Despite experiencing two in-flight engine failures during the months-long test program, Cessna says all development issues related to the Safran SMA diesel engine in the 182 JT-A have been resolved and certification is “weeks away.”
The 182 JT-A test airplane with the new jet-A-burning SMA compression-ignition engine suffered an emergency engine failure in August that was traced to a development issue related to the turbocharger. The test pilot of the airplane was unhurt after performing a deadstick landing in a Kansas farm field. Weeks later Cessna flew the airplane to try to replicate the conditions that led to the engine failure – and succeeded. This time, the test pilot was flying directly over Wichita’s Mid-Continent Airport and was able to make an uneventful glide and touchdown on the runway.
