Lancaster California: Another Fatal Cirrus Crash

Completely based on assumptions here, I read this as practicing the
'turnaround' maneuver after an engine failure on takeoff.
You know, the manuever that kills lots of pilots every year, the
maneuver that you are taught never to attempt?

If that is true, I would like to know if the Cirrus training curriculum
or the Gene Hudson curriculum calls for this. I wonder how many times
this went well with other students before this had to go bad one day
and result in a crash.

Well, I guess it went well once in this case, the second time it did
not. (if indeed this was the reason, we all don't know)
I wonder who else is teaching students these circus stunts out there.

It is very sad that the cover story of this month's (January) Aviation
Safety Magazine (http://www.aviationsafetymagazine.com) is exactly
talking about that. Here I quote a small portion of this article:

By Rich Stowell (Aviation Safety Magzine, January 2006)

Turnbacks Reconsidered
If an engine quits on takeoff, where you go is less important than how
you arrive. A straight-ahead landing remains the best low-risk option.

.......
Each year some pilots try the turnback maneuver after an engine failure
and succeed while others don't.
.......
One hundred percent of the attempts to proceed straight ahead (35/35)
resulted in successful outcomes.....By contrast, only 62 percent of all
of the attempted turnbacks were successful (69/112).
......
Compared to landing straight ahead, a Canadian study of stall/spin
accidents over a 10-year period assessed the risk of death or serious
injury as eight times (8X !!!!!) greater when a turnback to the airport
was attempted.
.....

-------------
I strongly recommand Aviation Safety Magazine. I am its loyal reader.
This is the second time in 1.5 year that I read its monthly article
and then the exactly NO NO fatal accident described in the article
happend.

On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 17:51:09 GMT, john smith wrote in
::

42 Cirrus aircraft accidents in five years.
14 in 2005.
11 of 14 were model 22's, of of which was a G2.
3 of 14 were model 20's.
4 of 14 flights were fatal.

With all the Cirrus accidents, it seems they've started including
additional safety features in addition to the airframe parachute
system:

http://www.cirrusdesign.com/aircraft/safety/

Terrain Awareness
TAWS (Terrain Awareness Warning System), now a standard
installation on all CIRRUS SRV, SR20 and SR22 aircraft, helps keep
you clear of terrain and obstacles.

Airbag Seatbelts
AmSafe Aviation™ airbag seatbelt restraints are now part of the
new SAFETY COMES STANDARD installation program at CIRRUS.
CIRRUS includes the airbags to help ensure greater protection for
the pilot and front-seat passenger in the event of an incident.

On 10 Jan 2006 22:23:21 -0800, "cpu" wrote:

1. From the local TV news, the plane's engine quited when it turned
crosswind. It immediately dove down to the ground after engine quit.

Engine quitting does not normally cause an airplane to dive to the
ground but pilot screwing pooch does.

As Larry said, sounds like stall spin.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

2. Prior to the crash, it's done many touch and go on the William Fox
Field (KWJF).

3. Note that the temporature here in Southern California was over 76
degree in downtown LA. I would guess it must be close to high 80 or
even 90s in the desert. (The crash happend on 1:40PM)

4. From the TV news, local sheriff saw the chute ejected after it hit
the ground. But can't be determined by official yet.

5. The plane was a rental at VNY Gene Hudson Aviation.

My friend's SR22 had experienced engine quit last summer when he took
off from Las Vegas in a hot day, with fully loaded, with air-condition
turned on. It was caused by engine vapor lock. Fortuntely he ws high
and was close to JEAN ( 0L7). He made a successful dead stick landing
at JEAN. His wife on the side sreamed ...pull the chute..pull the
chute...but he did not attempted.