Two Recent BRS/CAPS Deployments Credited with Saving 5 People

Cirrus Design has issued a statement in the wake of the two successful parachute saves on their SR20 and SR22 aircraft that occured just 36 hours apart.

"In two separate incidents last week, five lives were saved by having their aircraft lowered to the ground by parachute. Both aircraft were Cirrus, the only FAA certified aircraft equipped with a rocket deployed airframe parachute that can be used in an emergency to safely lower the entire aircraft with the passengers protected in the cabin.

Last week (April 8, 2004), while traversing a desolate mountain range area near Colona, British Columbia at 11,500' MSL, Albert Kolk became the second Cirrus owner to rely on the safety failsafe of CAPS. Kolk opted to deploy CAPS in his Cirrus SR20 (Canadian registry C-GEMC) after encountering severe turbulence over the inhospitable terrain. Although the investigation is currently underway, the fact we do know is that all four people onboard (3 adults and a youth) were saved by the CAPS. The deployment over rugged terrain (with peaks reaching 9,500 MSL) at night was successful largely due to the quick decision making of the pilot who relied on his factory training to execute the second historic deployment. "We came down safe and sound and just stepped out of the airplane," stated Albert Kolk, owner and pilot of C-GEMC. "Not even a sore muscle or bruise. It's amazing."

On April 10, 2004 in a completely unrelated event, the third historic CAPS deployment occurred in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Jeff Ippoliti departed Ft. Lauderdale Executive (FEX) into instrument conditions with ceilings at 400' AGL. Once in the clouds, Ippoliti began to experience conditions that he felt made the return to the departure airport impossible. As the final measure of safety, Ippoliti informed controllers that he was "pulling the chute" and took the prescribed steps to execute another textbook deployment. Ippoliti's SR22, (N916LJ) came to rest safely approximately six miles from the airport in a wooded park. Ippoliti told reporters at the scene that the deployment and subsequent landing was a "non-event" and when asked if he would purchase another aircraft, Ippoliti exclaimed "Absolutely! Another Cirrus, I wouldn't fly anything else."

When Cirrus certified its SR20 in 1998, it became the only manufacturer in the world to offer a parachute for the aircraft as standard equipment. Cirrus' bold move to incorporate the parachute was subject to much skepticism from industry insiders who initially thought that airplanes didn't need parachutes. Nonetheless, company founders Alan and Dale Klapmeier were undeterred in their vision to make personal transportation safer. In fact, safety is one of the core values that Cirrus is founded upon.

"At Cirrus, the first measure of safety is always accident prevention," says Alan Klapmeier, president and co-founder of Cirrus. "However, regardless of how safe the Cirrus aircraft is designed to be, mechanical and human factors may eventually result in the need to rely on the CAPS as a final measure of safety." To date, there have been three documented deployments of CAPS - each occurrence was safely executed under vastly different circumstances but each had the same positive result for the aircraft occupants.

In 2002, Lionel Morrison became the first Cirrus customer to deploy the CAPS outside of the testing environment, thereby securing a place in aviation history. Morrison was on a post-maintenance flight when one of his flight controls surfaces became inoperative to the extent that he felt he could not safely land the aircraft (N1223S). Consequently, he decided that his best and safest option was the deployment of the parachute. Morrison's textbook CAPS deployment demonstrated to the world that Cirrus had ushered in a new era in aviation safety with the airframe parachute as the final measure of safety for extreme aircraft emergencies.

It is particularly noteworthy to mention that the three CAPS deployments to date occurred under vastly different circumstances. The first deployment was a response to an inoperative flight control resultant from improper maintenance. Although the chain of events that led up to the second CAPS deployment (11,500' MSL, VFR, night, severe turbulence) and third CAPS deployment (>1,000 MSL, IFR, day, cause undetermined) are still under investigation, each deployment in its own right demonstrates the effectiveness of the system and its ability to save lives. "Clearly the recent deployments show the obvious benefit of CAPS as potential live-saving equipment, but they also show how the CAPS works under the wide range of conditions that our aircraft routinely operate in," stated Alan Klapmeier. "Our goal has always been to make aviation safer. And with CAPS it is safer - the real question is why aren't more companies using this technology to save lives?"

To date, Cirrus is the only manufacturer in the world to offer occupants this level of safety. Critics of CAPS and Cirrus' obsession with safety may be able to image reasons why you wouldn't want a parachute on your aircraft, but Cirrus can name 6 reasons why every aircraft should have a parachute system - those reasons would be the names of the first six people who survived their extreme in-flight emergencies who may have otherwise perished.

More on Cirrus Safety

A close look at any Cirrus aircraft quickly reveals a variety of active and passive safety features designed to help prevent accidents. A more in depth understanding of Cirrus aircraft yields numerous other, less obvious but equally important safety features. Certainly some of these features are incorporated into other aircraft designs, however, Cirrus is not aware of any other aircraft that is an equal representative example of the same level of safety provided to occupants as the standard equipment provided by Cirrus. Below is a list of some of the safety features on Cirrus aircraft. No other manufacturer in the world has complied so many standard features into a single aircraft under the banner of safety.

Active Safety Features

• CAPS™ - The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), standard equipment on every Cirrus aircraft, is indicative of the visionary commitment to general aviation safety. The parachute system is designed to protect occupants in the event of an extreme emergency by lowering the aircraft to the ground after deployment by the pilot. CAPS revolutionized general aviation safety by providing a final measure of safety to occupants similar in theory to the role of airbags in automobiles. No other certified general aviation aircraft manufacturer in the world provides this safety feature as standard equipment.
• Wing Design & Enhanced Stall Characteristics - Safety and innovation are unequivocally evident in the wing design and its docile low-speed handling and stall prevention characteristics. The wing is a blend of several high-performance airfoils and is easily recognizable by the extended leading edge section near the wing tips. At low airspeeds, the outboard wing sections fly at a lower angle of attack than the inboard sections. The result is exceptional roll control authority and excellent pre-stall warning. These unique wing design features, tested and proven by NASA, also provide an improved resistance to spin entry during an inadvertent stall.
• CEAT™ - The proprietary Cirrus Energy Absorbing Technology (CEAT) integrated into each Cirrus seat protects occupants in emergency landing conditions by absorbing energy equivalent to 26 times the force of gravity vertically and 19Gs horizontally.
• Glass Cockpit - First introduced in 2002, the Cirrus glass cockpit includes the Avidyne 10.4" Primary Flight Display, a 10.4" Multi-Function Display and two additional 5" screen GPS receivers. The Cirrus glass cockpit is the first personal aviation aircraft to have the autopilot integrated with the PFD to provide such functions as altitude pre-select, altitude hold and vertical speed select. The MFD displays navigation functions for flight planning, en route, waypoint and destination information, engine monitoring, weather (Stormscope ®), traffic (Sky Watch®) and shaded terrain and obstacle data.

• All Electric Aircraft - The Cirrus product line shed the antiquated vacuum pump as a backup system to power flight instrumentation and incorporated a second and completely segregated electrical system similar to modern technology used in corporate, commercial and military aircraft.
• SIMPLE™ - In an effort to make flying an aircraft more effortless, precise and enjoyable, Cirrus engineered a proprietary design that incorporates the propeller governor lever with the throttle lever. The result is a single lever that enables the pilot to efficiently manage power. The system is aptly dubbed SIMPLE (Single Movement Power Lever).
• Composite Construction - Sturdy composite construction has a significant safety benefit in addition to being the key contributing factor to improving aerodynamics, fit and finish. For example, a bird strike to the leading edge of a traditional aluminum wing may cause significant damage by damaging the shape of the airfoil whereas a sturdy composite wing can deflect impact or absorb more damage due to it rigid construction.
• Role Cage - Cirrus aircraft are designed with a 3G roll cage to support the cabin and help protect occupants.
• Two Doors - By placing a door on each side of the aircraft, emergency egress may be more easily accomplished.
• Egress Hammer - In the event that the doors cannot be opened from the inside, Cirrus equips each aircraft with and emergent egress hammer located in the center console. The hammer can be used to open a window to facilitate exiting the aircraft.
• Four Point Harness - Each seat in the aircraft is equipped with a comfortable 4-point safety harness to help keep passengers secure.
• TKS Ice Protection - Many Cirrus aircraft are equipped with optional TKS ice protection panels. These titanium panels on the leading edges of the main wing and horizontal stabilizer allow a glycol solution to be pumped through microscopic holes to coat the leading edge so the prevent inadvertent ice build up.
• Main Gear (40g) - The all-composite main landing gear of the Cirrus is designed to absorb up to 40Gs. Aside from being very resilient and forgiving upon landing, the gear helps absorb impact in the event of a CAPS landing.

Passive Safety Features

• Visibility - Visibility is by nature a passive safety feature because the pilot must be able to see something in order to avoid it. The single piece windscreen and over-sized windows provide an unobstructed view on the ground and in the air. The low-mounted glare shield helps the pilot keep the runway in sight during critical phases of take off and landing.
• Side Yoke - The intuitive side yoke used in Cirrus aircraft improves safety by providing the pilot with an unobstructed view of critical flight instrumentation and can prevent injury.
• Comfort - Keeping a pilot comfortable is a contributing factor to reducing pilot fatigue and stress that can diminish pilot performance. The 49" wide cabin with ample headroom and legroom and luxurious seats make even the longest flight segments comfortable for pilot to help remain alert."

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