Pilot Debrief

CIRRUS SR22 near Dallas, TX — 2013-05-16

Final reportCEN13IA285
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Date
2013-05-16
Location
Dallas, TX, USA
Aircraft
CIRRUS SR22
Registration
N715CD
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

The failure of the airplane’s parachute to deploy when activated during a loss of control in cruise flight due to the dynamic maneuvering of the airplane at the time of the activation, which exceeded the parachute system’s certification requirements.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he lost airplane control during cruise flight in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and turbulence. He subsequently activated the airplane's parachute system, but the parachute failed to deploy. The pilot regained control of the airplane after exiting IMC and landed the airplane without further incident. Certification tests were performed from level flight at speeds ranging from 62 to 137 knots indicated airspeed, and one test included deployment of the parachute system after a one-turn spin. The testing showed that to minimize the chances of parachute entanglement and reduce aircraft oscillations under the parachute, the parachute system should be activated from a wings-level, upright attitude if possible. Postincident examination of the parachute system did not reveal any system component failure. Postincident testing showed that off-axis deployment of the parachute could exceed the forces required for a successful deployment of the parachute. If the airplane has a large pitch or bank angle or angular rates (or a combination of these) as the parachute rocket leaves the airplane, the airplane will rotate and cause the rocket tether to pull at an angle other than that intended, and the parachute will fail to deploy. Radar data showed that the airplane was in a very dynamic flight pattern with extreme pitch and bank angles when the parachute system was activated. Thus, the parachute likely failed to deploy when activated due to the dynamic maneuvering of the airplane at the time of the activation, which exceeded the parachute system's certification requirements.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided entering IMC conditions after takeoff.

NTSB coding

  • Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) · Maneuvering

Evidence available

  • ADS-B / radar
  • 14 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents14

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