CAPS Saves The Day... Again
While the aviation world deals with the fallout from the
economic malaise that is gripping the rest of the world, it's nice
to know that despite all else, our technology keeps on doing it's
thing... and darned well, it appears.
We have sketchy info at the moment, but according to emails
associated with the aircraft in question, and some additonal
data from the Cirrus community, a 2007 Cirrus SR22 ran into
some kind of trouble last night following recent maintenance -- and
subsequently lost power. The area that this occurred over is St.
Mary Parrish, Louisiana, which features some truly inhospitable
real estate... especially come evening. The pilot is fine and
it appears that the aircraft has suffered minimal damage... though
it looks to be a chore to get it out of its current locale.
The 'CAPS' system, developed by Cirrus and BRS, is a
rocket-deployed 55-foot parachute that has been credited with
saving the lives of over 20 Cirrus pilots and passengers (not
including last night's endeavor). Normally hidden beneath the
surface of the fusealge, Kevlar straps suspend the entire airplane
beneath the canopy, after deployment. CAPS can be deployed by the
pilot or passengers by simply pulling an overhead handle, and once
activated, the parachute is fully deployed within seconds. The
entire assembly thereupon lowers the airplane and its occupants to
the ground. Cirrus is the only manufacturer of Part 23 certified
aircraft in the world to include such a parachute as a standard
aircraft feature.
This is the second parachute save this week... as an American
pilot Gary Noon, 54, utilized the CAPS system in his SR22
(N702SR) while flying over Belgium. Noon received minor injuries in
the impact which also involved an altercation with a tree.
Meteorological issues are reported to have contributed to the
decision to execute this deployment.
We'll have more info shortly... ANN thanks reader Darryl
Christen for the photo.
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 479SR
Make/Model: SR22 Description:
SR-22
Date: 12/19/2008 Time: 0021
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury:
None Mid Air: N Missing:
N
Damage: Substantial
LOCATION
City: PATTERSON State: LA Country:
US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT FORCE LANDED DUE TO AN ENGINE PROBLEM, 4 MILES FROM
PATTERSON, LA
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: PTN AWOS 12007KT 6SM CLR BKN120 17/17 A3020
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase:
Landing Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: BATON ROUGE, LA
(SW03)
Entry date: 12/19/2008
ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.19.25): Fuel Remaining
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