DA40 vs. Cirrus SR20

[Rich]

As of 16 September 2019 there have been 92 successful chute deployments with 186 survivors in aircraft equipped with the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). No one has died when the CAPS system was deployed higher than 1000 feet above ground and slower than 200 knots indicated.

I can think of one exception to that where the efficacy of the chute was completely negated by the tendency of Cirri to catch fire. To wit: Boulder, CO 2010.

[Soareyes]

"I can think of one exception to that where the efficacy of the chute was completely negated by the tendency of Cirri to catch fire. To wit: Boulder, CO 2010."

I might have to agree with you on that one. This is the accident where a glider tow plane and an SR20 hit each other at a 90 degree angle. According to the glider pilot in tow there was an immediate fireball in front of him as the planes collided. Both planes descended to the ground in flames, the Cirrus in horrifying slow motion under parachute. Everyone in both planes died.

Another midair collision occurred in the traffic pattern between a helicopter and a Cirrus at KFDK Frederick, MD on 23 Oct 2014. The three people in the helicopter died. The Cirrus lost its right aileron, flap and right landing gear. With better reflexes than I would have displayed, the pilot immediately pulled the chute. Both people in the Cirrus walked away.

[Colin]

Peter,

The chute is there for when you exceed the design envelope of the airframe or lose the engine and are not confident you can put it down safely. The chute itself has a design envelope. There's no such thing as a device that will always save you. If you wait until you are 285kts (the number I was told for the Reno accident) then you need JATO rockets to slow you down, THEN you can pull the chute.

[Colin]

No one has died when the CAPS system was deployed higher than 1000 feet above ground and slower than 200 knots indicated.

Am I mis-remembering that there was an accident where the chute was deployed over mountainous terrain and the people died when the high winds dragged the plane over the terrain?

[Ian Sage]

No one has died when the CAPS system was deployed higher than 1000 feet above ground and slower than 200 knots indicated.

Am I mis-remembering that there was an accident where the chute was deployed over mountainous terrain and the people died when the high winds dragged the plane over the terrain?

Sounds like you are describing the SR-20 (out of NY if memory serves) that iced up in a storm over WY. Deployed the chute and came to the ground safely . . . then got dragged to death by WY storm winds. Again, that is all me working off memory with no research before posting. I would guess about 2012.

[waynemcc999]

soareyes: nice unbiased summary. Thx.
BTW, as a prior DA40 owner you should be able to get a full DAN account and then we can "like" your comments.
IMHO, keep posting,
Wayne

[Soareyes]

I'm a member now, Yay! Thanks for letting me in even though I am currently, shall we say, between Diamonds.

Background: I've purchased three different DA40s over the years starting in 2005 and flew a little over 1,000 PIC hours in them, traveling all over the USA from Florida to California to Massachusetts. Currently I have an SR22 but I just got my multi-engine rating in a DA42. Hint.

My name is Dan and I have AAS (Airplane Acquisition Syndrome).

[Rich]

No one has died when the CAPS system was deployed higher than 1000 feet above ground and slower than 200 knots indicated.

Am I mis-remembering that there was an accident where the chute was deployed over mountainous terrain and the people died when the high winds dragged the plane over the terrain?

Sounds like you are describing the SR-20 (out of NY if memory serves) that iced up in a storm over WY. Deployed the chute and came to the ground safely . . . then got dragged to death by WY storm winds. Again, that is all me working off memory with no research before posting. I would guess about 2012.

I think you're referring to this one. It was non-fatal and happened in New Mexico:

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/Repor ... L&IType=LA

There was one somewhat similar to what you describe, but it was in Arizona and didn't involve CAPS.

[Soareyes]

No one has died when the CAPS system was deployed higher than 1000 feet above ground and slower than 200 knots indicated.

Am I mis-remembering that there was an accident where the chute was deployed over mountainous terrain and the people died when the high winds dragged the plane over the terrain?

Sounds like you are describing the SR-20 (out of NY if memory serves) that iced up in a storm over WY. Deployed the chute and came to the ground safely . . . then got dragged to death by WY storm winds.

Most likely you are thinking of this one https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.avia ... 0925X01387 that happened along the CO/WY border. Another iced up plane turned into a lawn dart. According to the NTSB report the chute fired off as a result of the ground impact, something that has been seen in other accidents. The winds then dragged the part of the plane still attached to the chute for 1.5 miles, shedding more parts along the way.

There have been at least five or six times that wind in the chute has flipped the plane over after landing. Each time the people inside were able to get out OK.

Keeping mental track of the surface winds below is part of the "what if" game we all play whatever we fly. Nearest airport, biggest field, wind direction and strength all go into the decision matrix. Ground level winds over 25-30 kts would make me favor landing under control rather than the chute.

[Ian Sage]

Thanks for doing the leg work to look those up. More evidence of failing/blurry memory. Aging might be a drag, but it beats the alternative!