Cirrus SR20 deploys ballistic parachute near Banbury

[sdbeach]

Originally Posted by mary meagher

So if a Cirrus crashes with EFAT, the best advice for the fire and rescue service is to stand well away and watch it burn?

Two quick assessments need to be made at any Cirrus accident:

1. If the parachute has deployed outside of the airframe, then the rocket has been expended and the risk is gone.
2. If the parachute has not deployed, then approach the aircraft from the nose, since the rocket exits up and back of the fuselage. The rocket can be ignited by heat, such as a post-impact fire, or by movement of the activation cable, such as cutting through the roof of the cabin.

Please note that first responders need to become aware of the risks and procedures when dealing with ballistic parachute recovery systems.

If you know of Cirrus aircraft flying into an airport near you, please inquire if the first responders are aware of the ballistic parachute system. Cirrus Aircraft will provide information upon request. In the US, both the FAA and NTSB has provided several years of training for first responders. Earlier in this thread, the link was posted to the Canadian information.

With numerous Cirrus aircraft in other countries, I hope that first responders are receiving similar advisory information.

Cheers
Rick

[sdbeach]

Originally Posted by IO540

In this instance, the avionics were salvaged.

I don't suppose you will be posting their serial numbers.

Hah! My understanding is that the insurance company determines if repair is justified and when the aircraft is totaled, then they sell it to a salvage operator and pocket the money gained. In the US, there are various colored tags to document the repair/overhaul status of used equipment and licensed mechanics will not install equipment without such a tag or doing the overhaul for you. Anything similar in Europe?

Cheers
Rick

[Pilot DAR]

I'm confident that large airport Fire Departments are well trained in the unique aspects of aircraft emergency services. However, many smaller airports, and other places an aircraft can come to rest, are served by volunteer Fire Departments, who struggle with training. Training the unusual aspects of aircraft systems is beyond most training capabilities for these deaprtments. I train our local department, but that is unusual for this area.

[IO540]

My understanding is that the insurance company determines if repair is justified and when the aircraft is totaled, then they sell it to a salvage operator and pocket the money gained. In the US, there are various colored tags to document the repair/overhaul status of used equipment and licensed mechanics will not install equipment without such a tag or doing the overhaul for you. Anything similar in Europe?

Of course we have that here; being Europe it is even more gold plated, and equally worthless if there is an intermittent defect caused by mechanical damage

I cannot believe that avionics from a "chuted" Cirrus are being salvaged.

[A and C]

There seems to be a lot of talk of the damage to the avionic equipment following a landing by parachute, the main thrust of this seems to be around dammage resulting from the shock loading of the avionic equipment.

IO-540 is of the opinion that new equipment should be fitted and that this equipment would be free from any exposure to shock loading. Having been able to inspect the cargo sorting sheds of all the major companys who you could expect to deliver the new avionics I can tell you that the "G" loading in the cargo sheds is likely to be far worse than that of an arrival by parachute. this is even more so for a composite aircraft in that the structure deforms in a manor that absorbs shock rather than a metal structure that resists failure loads up untill the moment it fails.

It is my opinion that all the avionic companys build avonics to be UPS, DHL, FEDEX & TNT proof but only admit to meeting aviation certification standards, as far as I can see it is the only way to stay in business.

[mary meagher]

I referred to this thread in a discussion of Diversions. So may as well refresh it to satisfy the sceptics who thought I might have been making it up....