Parachute System Can Save Small Planes

Yahoo! Finance ^ | December 22, 2004 | Ted Bridis

[Dead Dog]

That would have scared the crap out of me! Not enough to close my eyes and spiral 16K feet to certain death.

[Denver Ditdat]

Do doctors have a high crash rate?

High enough, it would seem, that the V-tail Beechcraft Bonanza acquired the nickname "Doctor Killer"

[Dead Dog]

Forked Tailed Doctor Killer.


Kinda funny, they are the easiest airplane to fly I've ever encountered.

[GreenHornet]

I know nothing about aviation, but if I'm not mistaken, don't most plane crashes occur either shortly after takeoff, or as the plane is landing? If that's the case, it seems to me that, by the time the pilot realizes that a crash is imminent, there would not enough time for the parachute to be deployed. Also, the plane would be too low at that point for a parachute to be effective.

[StudPilot]

>>If a plane is capable of recovering from a spin, why would anyone want to pull a chute and crash land with the resulting damage?<<

How about engine failure at night, over mountains or in hard IMC ? Control surface or structural failure? You might get lucky and fly your way out of these situations, but if it's me and I have the option, I'll take the slow ride down under the canopy and let the insurance company worry about the damage to the plane.

[bootless]

Cirrus makes excellent aircraft. Bush visited their factory in Minnesota during his campaign.

Agreed. And I didn't realize that W visited the Cirrus factory - great! They're building and selling planes at an amazing rate. I am so happy for the Klapmeier brothers - two truly nice guys who had a great idea. Starting in the experimental regime, and refining from there to become certified ... AND running the company like a business - good for them!

I got a demo ride in a G2 to Oshkosh this year ... niiiiice plane!

[bootless]

Agree about spins. I took an hour of spin training in a 152 Aerobat before I soloed. I am VERY glad I did - especially when it came time to practice the stall series solo.

[bootless]

Unfortunately, one of the major causes of takeoff accidents is the departure of the pilot's actions from their training. Depending on the point during takeoff when you lose power (or whatever), some pilots attempts to turn back to the field (not even landing downwind, but going for the same direction as their takeoff!) too low or too close, instead of landing straight ahead, or if that's not possible, choosing a different place to set down.

[LeGrande]

How about engine failure at night, over mountains or in hard IMC ?

I have had an engine failure at night over mountains. I landed safely at an airport. Obviously hard IMC would make it tougher. I try to follow Chuck Yaegers precepts and try to avoid three challenges because I can only handle two : )

Control surface or structural failure?

Sure I would like a parachute then : )

You might get lucky and fly your way out of these situations, but if it's me and I have the option, I'll take the slow ride down under the canopy and let the insurance company worry about the damage to the plane.

What is the difference between descending at 800 fpm and 35 mph or descending at 1200 fpm with no forward speed?

On a more practical note, the Cirrus has around a 600 pound payload with full fuel. That effectively makes it a three seater with zero baggage allowance.

So everyone is going to fly the plane over gross. That means more stalls, longer takeoffs, longer landings, slower cruise, higher fuel burn, etc. The last 70 lbs can make a big difference.

Since most accidents occur during take off and landing anything that increases my chance of a stall is to be avoided (weight mostly). An extra 70 pounds of useless parachute certainly won't help me when I am trying to recover from a stall at 500'.

[KC_for_Freedom]

What avaiation "expert" would even suggest think this would work on a 747? why not just install 300 ejection seats?

In a class of mine we discuss ways to "system engineer" a safe crash landing system. Ejector seats have a concern since they depend on the weight of the passenger. But a section of seats might be successful or a system that weighed the passengers and adjusted the chute. The plane would also have to be separated using pyrotechnics to allow the smaller sections to be free to open their chutes.

[Brian Allen]

<< Do doctors have a high crash rate? >>

Off the top of my [Forty+ years career Aviator's] head -- and having had several medico partners through the years -- I'd venture the highest of any profesion.

Poor fellows also cannot write legibly and/or run businesses!

[hattend]

The emergency parachutes aren't flawless. Two families in Syracuse, N.Y., are suing Cirrus, Ballistic Recovery Systems and others for a combined $67.5 million over a fatal crash in April 2002. The case is pending in federal court.

The families said the pilot, a plastic surgeon who bought the plane six days earlier, tried to open the parachute but it failed. Defense lawyers have denied the system malfunctioned, and federal investigators concluded the parachute never opened "for undetermined reasons."

Sheesh. If the plane had not been equipped with a chute wouldn't the guy be just as dead? Seems like the lawyers needed another plaintiff as the plane manufacturer doesn't have deep enough pockets.