Two Parachute Pulls In Five Days, All Involved Safe

The pilot of a Cirrus SR22 walked away after deploying his airplane's parachute following what he described as a "catastrophic oil failure" last week.

The airplane went down in a wooded area of the Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona, according to a report appearing on the azfamily.com website. The pilot was identified as 61-year-old Robert A Wolff of Durango, CO. He was transported to an area hospital for evaluation, according to authorities.

FAA records indicate that the airplane is a 2005 model registered to Durango Development Inc of Durango, CO. The airworthiness date is listed as January 11, 2005.

Authorities said Wolff contacted the FAA using his cell phone after the accident. Sheriff's deputies and detectives located the pilot and the airplane a short time later. The only indication of what may have occurred was the pilot's report of the issue with the airplane's oil system.

In New South Wales, Australia, two men escaped major injury after the Cirrus SR22 they were aboard went down in the northwestern portion of the state. According to a police news release, authorities were called to a paddock about 10km (six miles) south of Gilgandra after the airplane had to make a forced landing about 1400 local time Wednesday November 21.

Police were told the pilot experienced engine trouble and the plane's airframe parachute was deployed. The aircraft came to rest in the paddock, causing it "extensive" damage. Both the pilot and passenger, two men aged 41 and 28, received minor injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and observation.  The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) was notified of the incident.

(Photo from the Navajo County, AZ Sheriff's Department)

FMI: www.ntsb.gov