Deployed After The Aircraft Entered An "Unrecoverable Spin"

It's why they first decided it might be a good idea to have them on airplanes. A Polaris FK-14 LSA flying at about 2400 feet in southern France was doing some stall and maneuvering practice when it entered what its pilot determined was an unrecoverable spin. After 5 or 6 turns, with the ground rising rapidly, the pilot deployed the airframe parachute installed on the aircraft. It righted the nose-down attitude of the plane, and set the plane and two pilots on board down in a French cornfield. While the Polaris sustained substantial damage to the wings, landing gear, and fuselage, the occupants walked away.

"I am a dealer for BRS (Ballistic Recovery Systems, the company that makes the parachute) in Europe and now I truly understand just how important this product is to my customers," said Christophe Briand of Murete, France, who happened to be the passenger in the plane. "While I wish I hadn't needed to have used it, I am nonetheless very grateful the plane I was flying that day had one installed." The pilot in command of the aircraft was not identified.

"This was an especially satisfying save," said BRS President and CEO Larry Williams, "We are so pleased that Christophe will now be around to testify to the quality and efficacy of our products from a personal-use viewpoint."

Ballistic Recovery Systems has documented 236 lives saved by its parachutes. It has delivered more than 30,000 parachute systems worldwide.

FMI: www.brsparachutes.com