From time to time people ask about parachutes in airplanes - big, small, and in between.
Well, today in Indiana a Cirrus airplane went down. As it happens, a Cirrus is equipped with a whole-plane parachute called a BRS or “ballistic recovery system”
I found out later through another source, which I have not been able to link to, that the pilot suffered a stroke and the passenger sitting next to him was the one to pull the deployment handle.
I would like to correct a factual error in the article, namely the idea that anyone could have steered this airplane to the retention pond. Once the handle is pulled, all steering control is lost. It is luck they landed where they did, not skill.
I will also point out, as I have in other threads, that the parachute only gives you a chance at a survivable landing - there is no guarantee you will be uninjured. In fact, all three survivors are in the hospital (but expected to recover)
When a plane crash doesn’t damage people or property on the ground it seems to be common for reporters to suggest that this must be evidence of the skill and altruism of the pilot. In a very few cases it is; far more often, it’s simple luck.
So, the Cirrus site notes that the CAPS (chute) has been tested to 135 knots. However, there is no mention in the literature that the engine or prop is disabled when the chute is deployed. What prevents some idiot from attempting to “guide” a chute-deployed plane with the engine running? Nose over and pretend the thing has dive brakes?
Among other things, the Cirrus instructions on parachute deployment include steering (if possible) until you’re over the most suitable landing area and turning off the engine prior to launching the 'chute.
However, let’s assume someone simply pullls the handle. Instead of going forward you will shortly be going downward. The system is such that you will be approaching the ground landing gear first. In that position, the air moving over the wings and tail will not be going in the proper direction to allow steering. Also, engine torque and stuff might cause you to start spinning under the 'chute - which can, if severe enough, cause the canopy to collapse in part or whole and thereby reduce its safety function. Doesn’t mean that will happen, only that it could. But between the lack of proper airflow over the normal steering surfaces, and the tendency for a turning engine to turn the airplane under canopy, you are not going to any meangingful “steering” going on. You might have thrust, but you will have no means to control its direction.
The chute has a max demonstrated deployment airspeed of 133 knots, while cruise is 185. The nanufacturer expects to stretch this to 350 KT. So the answer to stopping the engine would be “Maybe”.
Other stories I’ve seen about this case report that the pilot had shown his family members how to deploy the chute.
