"David Kinsell" wrote in message news:kk8jc.41229$aQ6.2305255@attbi_s51...
"Martin Gregorie" wrote in message ...
New Scientist just picked up on two cases where Cirrus SR-20 drivers
pulled the BRS trick and 5 people came down safely and walked away
without injuries. Four in one aircraft and one in another. BRS works:
good. That was about the limit of that story.

However, I took a look at the Cirrus website,
http://www.cirrusdesign.com/, and a slightly different story emerges:
in the first case the pilot lost control during a night-time flight
over the Canadian Rockies in turbulent conditions and popped the BRS.
In the second case the pilot took off solo from a Florida airfield
with a 400 foot cloud base, lost it on IFR at about 1000 ft and also
pulled the BRS release. These guys could have both been highly
experienced pilots or low-timers - the Cirrus press release doesn't
say. But, looking at the report makes me wonder if the BRS is an
unmixed blessing: In both cases it sounds as if having the BRS could
have tempted pilots to fly in conditions when they maybe shouldn't
have. As I said above, its good that the BRS got them out of trouble,
I hope we don't see a rash of similar stories as low-timers do silly
things 'knowing' that the BRS can save their bacon.

Comments?


Sounds plausible. Anti-skid brakes on cars have become common-place,
but no one has proven a reduction in accident rates. Maybe one of those
compensating behaviors that we read about? If I had a structural failure
or midair in a glider, I wouldn't have a lot of faith that the shroud lines would
stay untangled, due to the almost certain spinning that would result. Maybe
others would.

Attitudes toward safety come from your training, years of experience
and knowledge of misfortunes that have befallen fellow pilots. I also
have ABS on both of my vehicles and am not tempted to drive faster (or
in worse conditions) than if I didn't have them. I do feel like I have
better odds of surviving a mishap with them. I definitely did avoid
one accident with them.

I also have a motorglider. But I would no more fly into unlandable
terrain, thinking I could bail myself out with the motor, as I would
have with my ASW-19.

The first accident was caused by flight into severe turbulence
(probably a rotor). Without knowing what weather briefing the pilot
got before the flight speculating that he was pushing the envelope
because he had a BRS is exactly that: pure speculation. The other
accident was, I believe, was an electrical failure in IMC conditions
shortly after takeoff. The pilot was instrument rated, so the
conditions were not abnormal.

AOPA says the accident rate of the SR20 is comparable to Cessna 172
and 182s.

Tom Seim
Richland, WA