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United States Pilots Association |
Many of us fly specific airplanes for several different reasons. I favor Cessna high wings because I am most comfortable flying these meat and potato aircraft that I know will always get me home. During 1990 I bought a Bellanca Super Viking in Hawaii and flew it for some 200 hours both in Hawaii and in New Mexico. In 1994 I upgraded to a later model Viking and soon had an accident involving the aircraft's tendency to weathervane into the wind in landing configuration. Two more of these incidents taught me that the Viking and I were not meant for each other. I went back to an old friend--the Cessna 206--with no further problems.
I was perusing the NTSB reports for October 2006 and found a disturbing trend involving the Cirrus SR-22 aircraft. We have all heard of the Corey Lidle crash in New York City. Mr. Lidle had a total of 88 hours flight time with about ten hours in the Cirrus. His instructor had not taken the manufacturer's approved course to instruct in the airplane. They attempted to execute a 180 degree turn over the East River and ended up hitting an apartment building in Manhattan. Both occupants died. USPA has a video taken in a simulator duplicating the exact wind conditions, etc. which depicts the events that led up to the crash.
Sunday, October 6th, an American registered Cirrus departed from the side of the runway in Germany and struck a fence. There were no deaths.
Wednesday, October 25th, a Cirrus crashed near Meadview, Arizona, killing all four occupants. The aircraft entered icing conditions and was brought down. The Ballistic parachute was deployed, but apparently not soon enough.
Friday, October 27th, a Cirrus attempting an instrument landing at Statesville, NC, crashed on the airport, killing two and injuring two others. The aircraft was seen performing very steep turns before stalling and ultimately crashing.
It appears that this airplane is a very different breed of cat from our Cessnas and Pipers as respects flight characteristics. It has a two stage wing which causes a dramatic stall at slow speeds. The plane has been involved in several incidents of pilot loss of control in level flight. Apparently the ballistic parachute is not the answer. People are still dying in these aircraft. Perhaps a more detailed checkout procedure in the plane with an instructor who has been approved by the factory might help. I also believe that a whole lot more of sensible decision making prior to taking a flight might assist in lowering the accident rate.
I have a friend in the FAA who is deeply involved in the safety program. He teaches a class called "Don't tap the nose of your tiger" referring to the Sigfried and Roy instance where Roy Horn tapped his tiger on the nose with a microphone. The tiger tried to kill him. Don't try to load up your Cirrus (or any other four seater) with full fuel and four passengers; and then go flying at high altitudes into forecast icing conditions. The Cirrus (or any other similar aircraft) will try to bite you. When banking a Cirrus at 60 degrees or more, keep in mind the nose will try to drop. Next will come the stall. This is an extremely high performance airplane and needs to be flown as one. The airplane does not care. If you let it get out ahead of you, it will bite, and sometimes those bites are fatal.
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association