Cirrus pilot blacks out, wife saves situation
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Cirrus pilot blacks out, wife saves situation
Here I am in Texas! just heard on the news that the pilot of a Cirrus blacked out at altitude. His wife, though also suffering from apoxia, radioed for help, stayed calm while ATC tried to find nearby help acquainted with the Cirrus systems; they were apparently describing the parachute deployment option when the pilot came round somewhat, and after grumping that he didn't need any help, managed to safely land the plane. Another example, guys, that should inspire you to sign up (and pay for!) your lady to be able to tackle the basics to get the situation under control and back on the ground in one piece.......
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Close the throttle, wait for the airspeed to decay, pull the chute, pull the red lever, turn the master off. 
Its not hard.
(I know, I know it helps to keep it level and unlatch the doors and one or two other minor details).
Its not hard.
(I know, I know it helps to keep it level and unlatch the doors and one or two other minor details).
If you can afford a Cirrus,and want to fly high,you can afford oxygen...otherwise don`t be a f$%£^&g pratt....
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I hate to throw the book at you SoCal, but it's 30 minutes sustained above 12500ft, mandatory for crew at 14000ft and mandatory for all occupants at 15000ft. If you're at 13.999ft for 29mins or less, you're legal.
Not that it's good practice.
Not that it's good practice.
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Hmm did notice the mention of apoxia in the OP.
I wonder whether the wife realised it was (probably apoxia) rather than a heart attack or some other trauma.
Pulling the chute on a Cirrus is at least always an option but obviously not a good option if the pax thinks they can maintain control, the pilot will revive and land the aircraft.
That is an intersting call for any pax to make.
I wonder whether the wife realised it was (probably apoxia) rather than a heart attack or some other trauma.
Pulling the chute on a Cirrus is at least always an option but obviously not a good option if the pax thinks they can maintain control, the pilot will revive and land the aircraft.
That is an intersting call for any pax to make.
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Here is the Live ATC from start to finish, Cirrus N591WA
http://avwxworkshops.com/etips/images/N591WA.mp3
http://avwxworkshops.com/etips/images/N591WA.mp3
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That Flight Aware trace is certainly interesting. Most of the cruising was at 17,000 feet, and then the trace gets a bit squirrly. Having a look at the specs of the Cirrus, it appears to be powered by a turbo charged Continental engine, quite happy at 25,000' and a fair old speed as well. I couldn't discover if it was a pressurised cabin with a built in oxygen system...in our gliders we strap in an oxygen tank and use a mask or a canula......from 12,000 to 48,000', in wave.
All that technology, and a rocket fired parachute safety system as well, packed into a rather confined space, its a wonder there is enough room for two people to be comfortable on a long trip.
Can anyone say where it is built?
All that technology, and a rocket fired parachute safety system as well, packed into a rather confined space, its a wonder there is enough room for two people to be comfortable on a long trip.
Can anyone say where it is built?
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I couldn't discover if it was a pressurised cabin with a built in oxygen system...in our gliders we strap in an oxygen tank and use a mask or a canula
All that technology, and a rocket fired parachute safety system as well, packed into a rather confined space, its a wonder there is enough room for two people to be comfortable on a long trip.
And they are made in Duluth, Minnesota Cirrus Aircraft
It is irrelevant this was in a Cirrus and could and does happen in any aircraft, 10/10 to the Pilots wife that there was a happy outcome.
From the CIRRUS COPA web site the ATC controller is named as Charlie Rohrer and he was as cool as a cucumber and did a great job although continued to work other traffic and I thought might have declared an emergency and worked just this aircraft (although I have no idea how this works in practice and what options he had)
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If you can afford a Cirrus,and want to fly high,you can afford oxygen...otherwise don`t be a f$%£^&g pratt....
In this case he may not have been using o2.
the ATC controller is named as Charlie Rohrer and he was as cool as a cucumber
IO540, the tape confirms that he was on oxygen, but maybe it was not working correctly.
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Listening to the tape heart in mouth, the relief when 762 said they were down was overwhelming.
Training for non pilot partners used to be called Pinch Hitters - don't know why.
Is the guy OK? It's always a frustration when you don't hear how it ended.
Medals all round
SGC
Training for non pilot partners used to be called Pinch Hitters - don't know why.
Is the guy OK? It's always a frustration when you don't hear how it ended.
Medals all round
SGC
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Subsitute batter in something that is not quite cricket!
Pinch hitter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pinch hitter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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If you can afford a Cirrus,and want to fly high,you can afford oxygen...otherwise don`t be a f$%£^&g pratt....
In that part of the world however it is fairly essential if you regularly cross the Rockies.
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Coincidentally there was an article in Flyer last month (June 2011, page 38) about an upgrade to the Garmin Perspective ESP as fitted to the Cirrus. One of the newly introduced features is Hypoxia protection. When flying above a certain altitude you have to press buttons every so often (depending on altitude anywhere between 30 and 1 minute) otherwiss the system will (after a few obvious alerts) automatically descend to, eventually, 12,500 feet. Which should be sufficient to regain consciousness.
In this case it was the passenger who saved the day, but otherwise such a system could have prevented a fatal accident.
In this case it was the passenger who saved the day, but otherwise such a system could have prevented a fatal accident.
007H, I apologise if I jumped the gun,but the report also said his wife was also affected; therefore a presumption on my part that it may not have been carried.However,hypoxia affects everybody in different ways,individual physiology,and if you can afford the aeroplane,you can afford the systems,to the extent of carrying an emergency bottle as well.
As a bit of drift, several years ago I was asked to do an airtest on a pressurised aircraft,including performance and height climbs,etc.During the ground checks,I managed to find one crumpled,and brittle plastic mask,and a non-working oxygen system.Yet the aircraft was regularly used,and with passengers in areas that had safety altitudes above FL150...!
As a bit of drift, several years ago I was asked to do an airtest on a pressurised aircraft,including performance and height climbs,etc.During the ground checks,I managed to find one crumpled,and brittle plastic mask,and a non-working oxygen system.Yet the aircraft was regularly used,and with passengers in areas that had safety altitudes above FL150...!
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Did this a/c have a built-on oxygen system, or was it a portable kit, perhaps with demand regulators?
I have flown up to 20000ft with my portable system, with cannulas, and above about 16k one needs to breathe fairly decisively. Above about 18k, more so. At 20k, very much so. Cannulas are not recommended above 18k anyway.
I haven't seen a report on this incident where it says how high he actually went but it is quite possible that he was not breathing properly e.g. using his mouth rather than his nose (if using cannulas). Also some people are affected much more than others; I once flew with one chap who was affected badly enough to not be able to read the altimeter after about 30 mins at FL120. Within seconds on o2 (he had earlier refused o2) he was fine. I use o2 anywhere above about 9k; at those low altitudes the flow rate is very low and it keeps one wide awake.
Why am I not suprised?
I have flown up to 20000ft with my portable system, with cannulas, and above about 16k one needs to breathe fairly decisively. Above about 18k, more so. At 20k, very much so. Cannulas are not recommended above 18k anyway.
I haven't seen a report on this incident where it says how high he actually went but it is quite possible that he was not breathing properly e.g. using his mouth rather than his nose (if using cannulas). Also some people are affected much more than others; I once flew with one chap who was affected badly enough to not be able to read the altimeter after about 30 mins at FL120. Within seconds on o2 (he had earlier refused o2) he was fine. I use o2 anywhere above about 9k; at those low altitudes the flow rate is very low and it keeps one wide awake.
During the ground checks,I managed to find one crumpled,and brittle plastic mask,and a non-working oxygen system.Yet the aircraft was regularly used,and with passengers in areas that had safety altitudes above FL150...!