Cirrus SR22 Pilot Deploys Parachute and Walks Away
What a day Thursday was...
it was aviation history in the making.
But for those of us at ANN, it seemed a true vindication for
General Aviation... It distinguished GA's power to innovate,
as well as our collective ability to make aviation safer. But most
of all, it was a celebration of those hearty individualists
who had a dream about the bringing
of tomorrow's aviation to
today's pilot... in ways that offered
more value, utility and safety than we'd ever seen before.
Now... let's all hope the rest of the world can be made to take
notice of this milestone and the uncommon talent that pervades the
aviation industry.
ANN's Thoughts on "History In The Making"
It is the first time a certified aircraft has landed using an
airframe parachute, and it is a legitimate piece of aviation
history. We've talked to a number of parties involved in the matter
and it now appears that this is about as "textbook" a case for
emergency parachute usage as we have ever seen. Mind you: we know
something about this subject.
ANN Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell, a guy who
has flown just about everything, in various states of readiness
(and occasional unreadiness...), was a test pilot for not one, but
two prototype GA parachute systems a decade ago. He has flown, as
flight crew, on multiple deployments in a BRS equipped Cessna 150
as well as deployments in the late Jim Handbury's mortar fired
Cessna emergency chute.
His thoughts so far?
"I have confirmed the
fact that the left aileron came off the aircraft... which is a
hell of a good reason for the use of the 'chute; because no matter
the circumstances, the separation could not have been gentle, and a
pilot can only imagine what else is next. When a critical
control system fails and a CAPS system is available, the decision
to fire the 'chute is a no-brainer. If everything I've heard is
accurate, it appears that SR22 pilot Morrison did a heck of a good
job and executed some very good reasoning in reaching his decision.
I congratulate him on his good fortune and obvious abilities. I am
also overjoyed to see a concept I have championed, for so many
years, so dramatically and successfully validated."
The Official Cirrus Statement
A Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) was deployed near
Dallas, Texas, yesterday [Thursday], when the pilot of an SR22
deployed the system after experiencing control difficulties. This
marks the first time a certified aircraft has successfully landed
under an airframe parachute canopy. According to FAA reports,
the pilot radioed to the tower yesterday afternoon that he was
experiencing compromised control of his SR22, and had decided to
deploy the CAPS. The aircraft landed in a wooded area between
Lewisville and Carrollton in northern Texas. The FAA also reported
that the pilot was uninjured in the incident.
"Saving the life of pilots is the reason we chose this route,"
stated Alan Klapmeier, President and one of the company's founders.
"Cirrus Design pioneered the use of this innovative safety measure
in its planes to help set the course for all personal
aviation. Building CAPS into our aircraft was done to
contribute to the overall level of safety in personal air travel
and protect the general aviation pilots of the future. Although our
first measure of safety is prevention, we are delighted that CAPS
worked to save this pilot. All of us at Cirrus Design can feel good
about that."
The company that supplies the parachute to Cirrus is BRS
(Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc.), of St. Paul
(MN). President and CEO Mark Thomas was quoted by the
Aero-News Network stating, "This is a
very exciting day for BRS. This is why we do what we do... and
it solidifies Cirrus's amazing vision for making aviation as safe
as they can. This time, that foresight averted a catastrophe and
they need to be applauded for their vision." CAPS is standard
equipment on all Cirrus aircraft, which are the only certified
aircraft to employ such a system.
Cirrus Alone in Providing Parachute Protection
When Alan Klapmeier and his brother, Dale, founded Cirrus Design
in 1984, they were committed to designing and manufacturing the
safest general aviation aircraft possible. That philosophical
decision was grounded in personal experience. As a young man, Alan
Klapmeier survived a mid-air collision in which another pilot was
killed. As a result, he was determined to find a way to make flying
safer. "Even under the best of circumstances, crises can happen,"
said Alan Klapmeier. "Our goal was to design an aircraft in which
they didn't have to be fatal."
Cirrus has spent over $10 million to develop, test and implement
the CAPS, and is the only company to manufacture certified aircraft
with an airframe parachute as standard equipment. It's a decision
that was derided by much of the aviation industry. "A lot of people
thought we were nuts," said Klapmeier. "They believed the parachute
was an unnecessary expense that added weight to the aircraft to
boot. To make things worse, they thought competent, macho pilots
didn't need it and wouldn't use it anyway. Yesterday, Lionel
Morrison proved them wrong."
Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS),
supply Cirrus the parachutes and helped them design and certify
CAPS. The system uses a parachute that is located in a canister
behind the aft bulkhead. The parachute is connected to Kevlar
harnesses embedded in the fuselage, coupled with 48-foot-long
suspension lines. When the system is deployed, a solid rocket motor
extracts the pressure-packed parachute assembly from its canister.
The parachute achieves full-line stretch in about 1.5 seconds and
fully extends in another few seconds, lowering the aircraft and its
occupants to the ground.
The system is designed to be used as a last resort, when all
other means of controlling the aircraft safely have been exhausted.
Possible situations when it could be appropriate to use the CAPS
include mid-air collision, control impairment, mechanical failure,
pilot incapacitation or loss of orientation or fuel exhaustion over
hostile terrain.
The safety features on Cirrus aircraft don't end with the CAPS.
Both the SR20 and SR22 feature seats tested to 26Gs, incorporating
a four-point harness on all four seats to meet the most stringent
FAA requirements. Similarly, the Cirrus roll cage and composite
airframe construction increase energy absorption and provide
greater structural integrity, offering up to 3g-rollover protection
to the pilot and passengers. All these features contributed to
yesterday's successful deployment and landing.
Cirrus Design Corporation is based in Duluth (MN), with
additional facilities in Hibbing (MN), and Grand Forks
(ND).