ANN REALTIME Update 0002 EST, 01.14.06: Three lives have been saved by a BRS CAPS deployment while imperiled by severe icing over Alabama. We have confirmed that the stricken SR22, (a 2002 model without TKS deicing or the Avidyne Entegra system), has grounded safely with three persons on board and that everyone is "fine." The aircraft departed Birmingham, AL, at 1544 CST and was proceeding to 8000 feet on a Southeasterly course when this incident occurred.

ANN has learned, via sources that have spoken with Pilot Kerwin Day, that SR22 N87HK was IFR climbing through icing conditions when it merged at 8000 feet. The aircraft was visibly covered in "quite a lot" of ice and exhibited severe control difficulties that included an uncommanded left bank of 90 degrees followed by an uncommanded right bank of 180 degrees and an apparent lost of control.

The pilot then initiated a parachute deployment that concluded successfully, though we have reports that this one was a "wild ride" in light of the fact that the aircraft was no longer under positive control. The right door was ripped off the aircraft during the deployment, but other than that, the deployment and landing were true to form. The aircraft is down in Alabama, having landed in trees, and was reportedly suspended about five feet off the ground. All three occupants are safe and have already made a number of phone calls reporting the adventure. In an exclusive report to ANN by Air Shares' David Lee (though this was NOT an Air Shares airplane), Day reportedly told Lee that, "I would not be talking to you today if I hadn't been in a Cirrus."

There is reportedly a fair amount of damage to one wing but little else to the rest of the airframe.

E-I-C Note: This has been a wild story. ANN actually wound up alerting both Cirrus Design and BRS to their latest save after an alert ANN News-Spy forwarded a brief PIREP to ANN HQ reporting the barest of details about the incident. ANN immediately investigated the matter and provided the first word of this save to both Cirrus officials and BRS... when we say REAL-TIME... we weren't kidding... grin.

Raw text PIREP

MGM UUA /OV SCD 270004/TM 2200/FL090/TP SR22/IC SVR ICG 077-0900/RM ACFT WAS DESCENDING BY PARACHUTE DUE TO SEVRE ICG BUILDUP CORRECTION ANB UUA /OV SCD/TM 2240/FL077/TP SR22/IC SVR /RM DEPLOYED PARACHUTE ZME

Decoded PIREP

Montgomery FSS Urgent PIREP  Location: Sylacauga, Alabama (SCD) 270004 (270 degrees 4 NM from Sylacauga airport, possibly from Sylacauga NDB which is also coded SCD) Time 2200Z Altitude (FL) 9000 feet, Type SR 22, Icing Severe Icing from 7,700 to 9,000 feet, Remark: Aircraft was descending by parachute due to severe icing buildup. Correction

Anniston FSS Urgent PIREP Location: Sylacauga, AL, Time 2240Z Type SR 22, Icing Severe, deployed parachute  (ZME is the signature for Atlanta Center)

FMI: www.cirrusdesign.com