Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Prototype (Cessna) SkyCatcher's Loss Complicated by BRS Deployment Failure
Aero-News.Net ^ | 9/24/08 | Aero-News

Posted on 09/25/2008 4:55:05 AM PDT by gridlock

Airframe Chute's Failure Forces Real-Live Bail-Out...

ANN has learned sume surprising details surrounding the recent loss of a non-conforming flying prototype of the Cessna SkyCatcher LSA during exclusive conversations with personnel from Cessna Aircraft and BRS Parachutes.

Cessna's prototype Model 162 SkyCatcher light sport aircraft crashed thursday afternoon near Douglass, KS on what was described as a routine test flight, but a Cessna spokesperson now describes as an extensive evaluation of the aircraft's smpin matrix... this particular test being devoted to "Full-Power, cross-controlled spins."

(snip)

Cessna has been pretty open adn up-front with the matter, at least to the extend of what is known just a few days after the incident. So far, Cessna and BRS have both confirmed that the pilot entered into some mode of irrecoverable flight condiditon in the spin tests and attempted to fire the rocket-deployed BRS emergency airframe parachute system. This corresponds to the "pops" and "sparks" reported by some witnesses. However; the BRS "fialed to deply as intended," according to a BRS staffer, and the pilot was left with no other choice but to egress the aircraft. No reason has been given for the alleged failure of the BRS parachute system but BRS confirsm that they have personnel on sight to participate in the investigation.

The pilot safely extricated himself and successfully deployed a Free Flight Preserve 1 canopy (thought to be part of a Para-Phernalia parachute system... the leading user of that canopy design), and landing about a quarter-mile from where the SkyCatcher impacted. While the airframe hit the ground largely intact, Cessna confirms that the aircraft is "totaled."

(snip)

(Excerpt) Read more at aero-news.net ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Kansas
KEYWORDS: aviation; cessna; skycatcher
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last
This is the follow-up to last week's story. Last week we were speculating that it was a structural failure. It looks like all the spitzen-sparken (to use the German term) was a result of the BRS system failure.
1 posted on 09/25/2008 4:55:07 AM PDT by gridlock
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Paleo Conservative

Do you know the names for the Aerospace Ping List?


2 posted on 09/25/2008 4:56:36 AM PDT by gridlock (The Democrats are attacking Motherhood. If they attack Baseball and Apple Pie, we got it made!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gridlock

Somebody needs a refresher course in spelling and word usage!


3 posted on 09/25/2008 4:59:46 AM PDT by catman67
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: catman67
Somebody needs a refresher course in spelling and word usage!

I actually had to retype this article, because I could not cut and paste. It was difficult, but I let all the errors stand.

You are quite right, of course.

4 posted on 09/25/2008 5:02:11 AM PDT by gridlock (The Democrats are attacking Motherhood. If they attack Baseball and Apple Pie, we got it made!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: gridlock

My comment wasn’t about your typing. From the article: “BRS confirms that they have personnel on sight to participate in the investigation

As opposed to on sound?


5 posted on 09/25/2008 5:05:39 AM PDT by catman67
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: catman67

Spell checkers are wonderful things. They will tell you if a word is spelled correctly, but they won’t tell you if it’s the correct word.


6 posted on 09/25/2008 5:07:29 AM PDT by catman67
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: gridlock

I don’t, but your question points at a need that I have noticed in the last couple of weeks when I have had similar issues wanting to know who owned the ping list for various topics. Seems like a master list available on FR web site might just be something quite useful.


7 posted on 09/25/2008 5:21:54 AM PDT by wita
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: gridlock

Some bailouts work, some don’t.................


8 posted on 09/25/2008 5:25:00 AM PDT by Red Badger (I'm gonna use "Sarah!" from NOW ON since Hillary uses "Hillary!"......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gridlock
irrecoverable flight condiditon in the spin tests

Probably not so forgiving as a 152 or 172.

9 posted on 09/25/2008 5:46:52 AM PDT by WayneM (Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WayneM

Between the availability of an unrecoverable spin and the failure of the BRS, this is not going to help the SkyCatcher sales one little bit. I think Cessna was going to market this thing as a “safe” alternative.

It was to be a very forgiving aircraft, almost impossible to get in trouble with. But if everything goes to Hell, pull the little red handle and “POOF!”, you float down like a feather. Sitting strapped in to an aircraft stuck in an unrecoverable spin with a non-functional BRS handle in your hand is not the “safe” mental picture they were going for...


10 posted on 09/25/2008 6:14:31 AM PDT by gridlock (The Democrats are attacking Motherhood. If they attack Baseball and Apple Pie, we got it made!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: gridlock; wita
Your request, fulfilled... FReeRepublic Master Ping List
11 posted on 09/25/2008 6:31:20 AM PDT by papasmurf (I ain't your Daddy's Conservative, OK?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gridlock; wita

Latest updated version at post # 306.


12 posted on 09/25/2008 6:34:23 AM PDT by papasmurf (I ain't your Daddy's Conservative, OK?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gridlock
...the BRS "fialed to deply..."

I hate it when that happens.

13 posted on 09/25/2008 6:39:24 AM PDT by TChris (Obama campaign: Where are we going? ...and why are we in this handbasket?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WayneM
Probably not so forgiving as a 152 or 172.

Don't know about the 152 but at least in some CG configurations a 172 will recover from a spin (into a dive) if you simply release the controls. (Yes I've tried it).

14 posted on 09/25/2008 6:52:35 AM PDT by Glock19C
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: papasmurf

Thanks, who knew. Must have missed April 2007 I just know who pings me. I was not aware the list was so extensive or that there was a list.


15 posted on 09/25/2008 7:09:23 AM PDT by wita
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: gridlock

Cessna Skycatcher
16 posted on 09/25/2008 7:23:39 AM PDT by laotzu
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wita

Neither did I know of one until I caught that post. There’s an awful lot of work in that, too. Apparently it’s a work of love. :O)


17 posted on 09/25/2008 8:11:23 AM PDT by papasmurf (I ain't your Daddy's Conservative, OK?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: papasmurf

Work of love, agreed. What better reason, I’m sure starting with JimRob the mods the ping list providers, and all the way down to the bottom the same could apply.


18 posted on 09/25/2008 8:39:18 AM PDT by wita
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: wita

I don’t think the Mods or Jim Rob provide ping lists.


19 posted on 09/25/2008 9:04:36 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: gridlock

“Sitting strapped in to an aircraft stuck in an unrecoverable spin with a non-functional BRS handle in your hand is not the “safe” mental picture they were going for...”

Well that’s one of the risks of flight testing.


20 posted on 09/25/2008 9:05:41 AM PDT by 2CAVTrooper (Democrats: Supporting America's enemies since 1824)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson