PILOT SPIN
Pilot Zone => Pilot Zone => Topic started by: President in Exile YOLT on January 10, 2016, 08:43:44 PM
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Discuss:
(http://flightlogix.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/CirrusParachute.jpg)
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I've flown two so I'd say pilot.
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Are we talking about Cirrus the airplane, or the parachute? The parachute can be found on a number of airplanes besides Cirrus. Bottom line- I think the airframe parachutes are great! Very good record so far.
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when under the canopy, the occupants are just passengers.
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when under the canopy, the occupants are just passengers.
...who virtually always survive.
I'd say overall, that's a good thing.
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when under the canopy, the occupants are just passengers.
...who virtually always survive.
I'd say overall, that's a good thing.
surviving is good thing, avoiding the need to pull the chute is even better.
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surviving is good thing, avoiding the need to pull the chute is even better.
Stipulated, with a big, "Well...DUH!".
But are most of us better pilots than...
Scott Crossfield?
Steve Fossett?
Sparky Imeson?
For newbies, go ahead and Google any or all of those names and see how they met their ends. Then compare your training and experience to theirs.
My point is not that a chute could have saved any or all of them, though it might have. My point is that even highly skilled and experienced pilots can have huge lapses in judgment or skill or whatever, and find themselves in life threatening situations. It's hubris to think that any given pilot, present company included, is somehow exempt.
BTW, it has been my experience that it's the least experienced pilots who tend to be the most judgmental.
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My point is not that a chute could have saved any or all of them, though it might have. My point is that even highly skilled and experienced pilots can have huge lapses in judgment or skill or whatever, and find themselves in life threatening situations. It's hubris to think that any given pilot, present company included, is somehow exempt.
If you think that is my position, then you are grossly mistaken.
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If you think that is my position, then you are grossly mistaken.
And I accept that. Lord knows I get things wrong all the time.
It's just that when you drop a one-liner like: "surviving is good thing, avoiding the need to pull the chute is even better." it sure leaves the door open to all sorts of interpretation, because the statement on its own is so obvious on its face as to not need stating.
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And I accept that. Lord knows I get things wrong all the time.
It's just that when you drop a one-liner like: "surviving is good thing, avoiding the need to pull the chute is even better." it sure leaves the door open to all sorts of interpretation, because the statement on its own is so obvious on its face as to not need stating.
understood.
Conversely, so many people are fixated on the chute as being important, it seems that they don't acknowledge the usefullness of avoiding the need for the chute in the first place.
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And I accept that. Lord knows I get things wrong all the time.
It's just that when you drop a one-liner like: "surviving is good thing, avoiding the need to pull the chute is even better." it sure leaves the door open to all sorts of interpretation, because the statement on its own is so obvious on its face as to not need stating.
understood.
Conversely, so many people are fixated on the chute as being important, it seems that they don't acknowledge the usefullness of avoiding the need for the chute in the first place.
I can't imagine that anyone was ever failed to acknowledge the usefulness of avoiding the need for a chute. The chute is there as a last ditch safety backup. Yeah, they may intend to use the chute instead of attempting a risky landing that could be less risky with practice and skill (and luck, as was my case), but the goal of the chute is to save lives; not to make flying easier.
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The chute is there as a last ditch safety backup.
In the Cirrus world, that kind of verbalization was leading to problems.
The current mantra is "Consider CAPS". That means that early on in the process, it should at least be considered as an option - many pilots were not doing so and dying with the CAPS never activated. I know, because I was among those who died that way. Let me see if I can find my account of that fateful day.
For those interested, detailed analysis from a few years ago here:
http://youtu.be/Pc6v-hWCSqc (http://youtu.be/Pc6v-hWCSqc)
A little long and dry, but well worth the time.
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Conversely, so many people are fixated on the chute as being important, it seems that they don't acknowledge the usefullness of avoiding the need for the chute in the first place.
That's like saying- ...so many people are fixated on the seat belts as being important, it seems they don't acknowledge the usefulness of avoiding the need for the seat belts in the first place.
That statement isn't true for seat belts, or parachutes.
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Here's how I died...
Last Saturday was the nice little fly-in into Kennesaw, GA.
Part of the “hook” was a chance to try out the SimTrain Cirrus simulator nearby.
While my basic flying skills weren’t too bad, I sort of blew two emergency scenarios, though the first was at least survivable.
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Scenario 2
At some point in the flight, at about 4,000’, the plane entered what seemed to be a spin. I pushed the stick forward, determined the direction of rotation and pushed opposite rudder. I think I retarded the throttle as well. I seemed to be making some progress (I thought) when someone in the peanut gallery said “chute?”. Seemed like a plan and I reached up for the handle, but it was blocked by the cover. I spent a second or two fumbling with the tiny pull-tab on the cover, and then hit the ground. Yikes.
Turns out the left wing had departed and the “spin” was unrecoverable.
This was a real eye-opener to me. I had wondered why the NY pilots who spun never pulled the chute and was certain I would have. Now I’m not so sure.
Observations:
1) Once the plane started to “spin” the only term I can think of is “task fixation”. I was 100% wrapped up in recovering from the spin. I’ve done hundreds of spins in the past and managed to recover from each and every one, so why not this one?
Warren Zevon (R.I.P.) sang “You’re a whole ‘nother person when you’re scared”. Even in a simulation this was pretty intense and the amount of fixation was remarkable. Kind of like tunnel vision with blinders to any other task.
2) IMHO, having the CAPS cover in place could have fatal consequences. In this case, I don’t care what the POH says (and that means something coming from me!). If the cover is a required placard, maybe it could be Velcro’d to the ceiling next to the handle (I think Mike has the “Pull Procedure” laminated in the handle’s recess). Turns out in my scenario I also had the pin in place - again, I blame this on not having my own checklist which I’m very used to. Still, it shows poor use of the checklist which was provided.
3) I thought Mike R’s “BAM-touch head-grab handle” exercise was cute but a bit over-the-top. I take it back, and will practice it myself in the future.
Similarly, I was impressed when Jeff Seymore briefed the takeoff by showing, on the backup altimeter, the altitude where he would start considering the ‘chute and no longer commit to a straight ahead landing if the engine failed. Again, a good idea which I may incorporate into my own routine.
Anyway, I learned a lot in a very short time (15 minutes?) and plan on going back, next time on my own dime. I figure if I go every other month and shoot at least 3 approaches and do some holds/intercepts, at least I’ll stay current. And I’m sure they have more of these wicked little scenarios I can screw up!
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I think more options are a good thing, but I don't know if it is worth the weight penalty, but if I had too guess I would say yes. I haven't looked at the useful load numbers with and without the chute in the SR22, and SR20.
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I think more options are a good thing, but I don't know if it is worth the weight penalty, but if I had too guess I would say yes. I haven't looked at the useful load numbers with and without the chute in the SR22, and SR20.
There is no equation to tell you if it is worth the weight penalty, the expense penalty or the stigma penalty. It is a personal choice. I chose to buy a Bonanza. Some people think that was a stupid choice.
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There is no equation to tell you if it is worth the weight penalty, the expense penalty or the stigma penalty. It is a personal choice. I chose to buy a Bonanza. Some people think that was a stupid choice.
I would make the same choice as you, but I grew up flying planes before they had chutes, and GPS for that matter.