The brilliant "madness behind the method" of the BRS/Cirrus CAPS system became even more evident Thursday afternoon after the latest emergency deployment of an airframe parachute was used to save a pilot's life.

Pilot Ilan Reich, a highly experienced and respected SR22 pilot with some 1400 hours in type, is reporting that he may have "blacked out" while flying the aircraft at 3000 feet over Southern NY. Reich emphasized, to friends, that there was no mechanical failure (and was even concerned enough about the rep of this local service center to let them know that they shouldn't worry).

Reich, 50, also reported that upon clearing his senses, he found himself in a dive, affected a recovery, but was disoriented enough to make the decision to pull the chute, which responded with a "big jolt." There is no info about this speed at the time of deployment, but Reich had sufficient presence of mind to use the factory included rescue hammer and grab a life jacket upon exiting into the water. The water landing was also described as another "jolt."

The aircraft floated for an undetermined period of time before it eventually sank.

Preliminary Accident Report

** Report created 7/1/2005 Record 3 **
IDENTIFICATION
 Regis#: 34521 Make/Model: SR22 Description: SR-22
 Date: 06/30/2005 Time: 2040
 Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
 Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
 City: WHITE PLAINS State: NY Country: US

DESCRIPTION
ACFT CRASHED INTO THE HUDSON RIVER FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, 10MI N OF THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY ARPT. THE ACFT IS REPORTED DESTROYED AND NO REPORTED INJURIES. WHITE PLAINS, NY

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
 # Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
 # Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
 # Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
WEATHER: KHPN 301956Z 19006KT 6SM HZ SCT025 BKN100 BKN200 25/22 A2988
OTHER DATA
 Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: General Aviation
 Departed: UNKN Dep Date: Dep. Time:
 Destination: UNKN Flt Plan: IFR Wx Briefing: U
 Last Radio Cont: UNKN  Last Clearance: UNKN
 FAA FSDO: GARDEN CITY, NY (EA15) Entry date: 07/01/2005

ANN has spoken extensively to the staffers at Cirrus Design and a statement about this latest "save" is expected later in the day. We'll bring that to you, as well as all other pertinent details, ASAP.

FMI: www.cirrusdesign.com, www.brsparachutes.com, www.cirruspilots.org