Light Aircraft Crash in Whitsundays
 

Pilot survives light plane crash

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A PILOT has survived a light plane crash in waters off the north Queensland coast, authorities say.

The light aircraft crashed into water around Dent Island, which is beside Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays, about 3.15pm (AEST) today, a spokesman said.
The male pilot was plucked from the water by boaties in the area and taken to the Hamilton Island medical centre complaining of back pain.
The RACQ CQ Rescue chopper will transport him to Mackay later on this afternoon.
No further information available was available.

Glad to hear pilot is safe. Ooops just before xmas

Any more info? Rego? Aircraft type?

VH-SLS
SR22
popped the chute near Dent island

They normally wait till the machines doing 400kts before the popem on a Cirrus. :8

That exact aircraft was featured in Jan/Feb 2010 issue of Australian Flying. Is/ was a nice aeroplane...

OK, someone is not doing their job. Who is responsible for posting the last 6 met reports for the departure aerodrome?
The thread will not be complete without it!

Needs more speculation, insults and abuse to come up to standard.:}

flew that plane 4 weeks ago.... dam nice plane, what a shame.
love them shutes eh

Confirm SR22 SLS.
Threw a piston apparently during take off, pilot elected to continue for a left circuit 14, engine failed approx 2nm final, landed with chute. nil injurys.

Big circuit for a single with engine issues....:eek:

Now sits in the passage between Dent and Hammo.... Merry xmas indeed!

Having not flown a parachute equipped aircraft, what is the training for when you should pop the chute?
Does it say have a go at a forced landing if you think you can make it, or does it just say pop it under controlled conditions? Or 101 things in between.
My thoughts are having had the engine fail the warranty, I'm happy to use the chute! Its good to see a little bit of technology, saving lives and hats off to the people selling and BUYING this stuff (and the pilots having the courage to use it too)
Anyone in the 'know' gives us a soldiers 5 on what the 'book' says?
NOT having any say on this accident at all as no one knows much at all yet.... let alone how far out on finals it was or why.
The only good known fact is the pilot is still with us.

some of our aircraft are fitted with BRS chutes, as for training, none so far, but a section in the POH on their use.

Chute should only be used as an absolute last resort, situations such as pilot incapacitation, airframe failure or engine failure over inhospitable terrain. Use of the BRS chute can result in serious injury and will result in the destruction of the aircraft. forced controlled landing is preferred.

BRS
 

I thought there is a minimum altitude limitation for use of the chute. For example, the SR22 that went in near Hoxton Park a couple of years ago deployed the chute at around 1,500 feet with the result of it wrapping around the tail. :eek:

Why is a fancy new aircraft "throwing a piston" ..in the first place?? (if that is in fact what happened)...

The manual says pop the chute not below 2000 agl but capable of operating as low as 400 AGL.

The SR22 that went in near Hoxton Park had an issue with the rocket head deployment and as such would have had the chute wrapped around the tail regardless of airspeed and altitude. An AD was raised shortly after for all CAPS systems.

If you've got it, use it, particularly if you know you can't land safely. A 22 would need a solid 300 metres for a deadstick to be successful.

It's the descent rate that would hurt, rumoured to be 2,500fpm!

I wonder if an AD will come out on the IO550 after this one! Was thinking those twin turbos and 215 tas would be a good thing.

Same flash silver one that was on display with Cirrus at Avalon this year. Lycoming will be having some interest in this one.

Dude, i already told you.

Get your whitsunday VTC out. Aircraft went in the water at the northern tip of Dent island. I know that area very well, and can tell you thats about a 2nm final.
Could be a million reasons... ECu failure causing overspeed, incorrect mixture, etc etc..

I have been told it sounded rough from the moment of lift off....

How would anyone know that without a post accident engine strip down?

Pretty obvious when it sticks out the side of the engine.
No saying that's what happened though..