Backcountry Pilot • The Cirrus SR22 Chronicles

The Cirrus SR22 Chronicles

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The Cirrus SR22 Chronicles

Another one. Good to see they walked away though. Maybe he should have used that BRS as a drogue chute.

Pilot, passenger walk away from small plane crash in Lincoln Park
January 22, 2006, 5:35 PM EST

LINCOLN PARK, N.J. (AP) _ A small plane attempting to land at a Morris County airport burst into flames after it went off the runway and slammed into some trees on Sunday afternoon, but the two men on board walked away from the crash.

The single-engine Cirrus SR22 started to veer left as the pilot tried to land at Lincoln Park Airport around 3:40 p.m., authorities said. Knowing he could not land the plane evenly, the pilot tried to throttle the plane back up, but that caused it to veer farther to the left and slam into some trees about 100 feet away from the runway, Lincoln Park Patrolman Greg Bosland said.

Both men were able to get out of the plane before it became engulfed in flames and were not seriously injured, he said. The pilot identified himself as Craig Denecke of Madison, but the passenger's name was not immediately available.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash.
Zzz offline
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There have been some issues with brakes and even brake caused fires. I believe I read that a retrofit of bigger brakes is being offered by Cirrus.
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BobWhite wrote:There have been some issues with brakes and even brake caused fires. I believe I read that a retrofit of bigger brakes is being offered by Cirrus.


Bob,

I remember reading the same thing recently in avweb's e-news. Seemed like Cirrus was trying to lay the problem off on misuse of the brakes. They were going to come up with a solution for those pilots that continue to misuse the brakes or something to that effect.

I do like being able to look out the window at my brakes/tires/gear.

Mark
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"If I can buy it, I can fly it" comes to mind...again. I kinda doubt that there's anything seriously wrong with the Cirrus' brakes...more than likely something wrong with the pilots feet, and their connection to the brain.
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They are tri-gear, but that nosewheel is castoring and is not linked to the rudder pedals. So if you don't have enough airspeed for directional control with the rudder, you have to use differential brakes, right?

I always wondered how much those bungees that make up the steering linkage in a tricycle Cessna actually help directional control in that range between rudder authority airspeed and fast taxi.
Last edited by Zzz on Mon Jan 23, 2006 12:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
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zane wrote:They are tri-gear, but that nosewheel is castoring and is not linked to the rudder pedals. So if you don't have enough airspeed for directional control with the rudder, you have to use differential brakes, right?...


If that's the case, the Grumman's are built the same way and you don't hear about them having these sorts of troubles.
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Doug,

Your right! I had forgotten the Grumman Tiger (AA5B) I flew many many moons ago. It was the first plane I rented and took my dad for a ride in after I got my ticket. I don't recall differential braking causing any problems or concerns.

Now that you bring it up, maybe we should start a thread "Cirrus SR22 vs Grumman AA5B" ;-)

Mark
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jmtgt wrote:As some one posted before the Cirrus is taking over the Bonanza's rep. I know 2 people who have these. They fly a lot but are not "Pilots". They are enammerd with the damm glass cockpit. They seem to always have there heads in the video game rather than flying the plane.

I never knew the Tiger to be a "DRs" plane. I could be very wrong as well though. There are a lot of Cirrus aircraft out there and we seem to hear a lot of accidents.
Does any one know it the Lancair Colombia aircraft have a castering nose wheel?



Perhaps the old hangar joke will have to be amended.

The three most dangerous things known to mankind?

1. Two Illegal Aliens with jumper cables.

2. A women with a chipped tooth.

3. Two doctors in a Bonanza.

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I think what Doug said about the pilot's brain not being connected to his feet is probably the most likely cause. But, Cirrus is nearly(if not already) the number one selling new piston aircraft today. I don't think Grumman is pushing Tigers out the door quite like Cirrus is, and I think we're getting some yahoos behind the sidestick in greater numbers.

Anytime someone says they drifted off the left side of the runway, applied more power(more left turning tendency) but couldn't arrest the drift...you have to suspect their feet.

Of course the news blurb fails to mention wind direction and speed, so he may have been fighting a stiff crosswind, but I've heard that the SR22 is a real champ in crosswinds due to the round fuselage.

Here's a previous accident I found in the NTSB database from the 13th. Looks like this guy did most everything right, except for his decision to continue into icing conditions...but who wants an airplane that stalls at 80 kts???:

NTSB Identification: ATL06LA035
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, January 13, 2006 in Childersburg, AL
Aircraft: Cirrus SR22, registration: N87HK
Injuries: 3 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On January 13, 2006, at 1601 central standard time (CST), a Cirrus SR22, N87HK, registered to Trench Shoaring Systems Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 business flight, had an in flight loss of control while climbing in instrument flight conditions in the vicinity of Childersburg, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The airline transport rated pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. The flight departed Birmingham International Airport, Birmingham, Alabama, enroute to Orlando, Florida, on January 13, 2006, at 1544.

The pilot stated he obtained a full weather briefing before departing Birmingham using the Direct User Access Terminal computer system. Icing conditions were forecast between 8,000 to 10,000 feet. The pilot filed his flight plan for a cruising altitude of 7,000 feet. The pilot stated the airplane is not equipped with de-icing boots, and is not certified for flight into icing conditions. The pilot was not aware of the National Weather Service Airmet that was in effect from 1445 CST to 2100 CST. The advisory warned of occasional moderate to mixed icing-in-clouds and in-precipitation between 3,000 and 8,000 feet.

The pilot stated he departed from runway 24 and was instructed by the control tower to contact Birmingham Approach Control. The pilot contacted approach control and the airplane was identified in radar contact while climbing through 1,500 feet. The controller informed the pilot to proceed direct to Hande intersection and the flight was subsequently cleared to climb to 7,000 feet. The pilot stated the airplane entered the clouds at 5,000 feet and his climb speed was 120 knots. Upon reaching 7,000 feet the airplane encountered icing conditions. The pilot informed the controller of the icing conditions and was cleared to climb to 9,000 feet. The pilot stated he did not know what the minimum obstruction clearance altitude was in relation to his position when he was cleared to 9,000 feet. As the airplane reached the clouds tops at 8,000 feet in visual flight conditions, the airplane began to buffet. The pilot looked at his airspeed indicator and it indicated 80 knots. The airplane stalled, the nose pitched down, and the airplane started spinning to the left while reentering instrument flight conditions. The pilot reduced power, neutralized the flight controls, and applied right rudder with negative results. He activated the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System, and the parachute system deployed. The pilot informed the controller he had deployed the parachute, squawked emergency on the transponder, provided latitude and longitude coordinates of his location on the radio, and initiated an engine shut down. The airplane descended to the ground under the parachute canopy, collided with trees, and came to a complete stop about four feet above the ground. All personnel exited the airplane and the 911 emergency operators were contacted on a cell phone. Emergency personnel arrived and the pilot and two passengers were transported to a local area fire department.
Last edited by Zzz on Mon Jan 23, 2006 2:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Thow enough ice on it and anything will stall at 80 kts. I have heard that you don't want to spin a Cirrus though.
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Keep in mind the initial guesses as to cause of accidents are usually wrong... that said I would suggest a few 'usual suspects':

#1 Agree with Zane-- bad feet in combo with p-factor and or x-wind most likely pilot error.

#2 Frozen left brake/wheel due to ice (it was NJ in WINTER!)

#3 Locked then deflated left tire on touchdown due to landing with a brake on. (this would still be pilot error and the right brake should be able to overcome the drag of the flat left tire)

As I recall, the SR20 POH sez the rudder is not effective for directional control below 20 kts. Assuming just a shred of a headwind of say 5 kts that would be at 15kts ground speed. Hard to imagine crashing hard enough to something at 15kts or less to BURST into flames. In my experience you certainly got some directional control well below 20kias and I had no problem keeping the nose where it belonged even on icy minnosota runways with a 10-15kt xwind. (The Cirrus is sweeet in XWinds!)

The Aerostar I fly (twice the weight of the Cirrus) has a toggle switch for major nose steering and diff brakes otherwise. (Rudders not coupled to nose wheel). Similar deal as the Cirrus with a blo 20kt effectiveness for the rudder but very positive control at all speeds IMHO.

Jeff - CFI
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But, Cirrus is nearly(if not already) the number one selling new piston aircraft today.

Saw a recent report (I forget where) that Cirrus is indeed #1 in sales.
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there are a lot of pic's that have no idea how to fly the plane that they are in. They can herd a plane from point a to b by brute force time and time again. When the first unusual attitude is presented to them they are not prepared for it, or have knowledge of what it looks, feels and tastes like.

How many cirrus drivers do you think know the full flight envelopes of there aircraft and what it feels/performs like in unusual attitudes?

The v-tail doctor killer analogy is a good one. I am a surgeon, I know every thing about every thing because I am a DOCTOR and then get out of control and well now they know the reaper.

THere are many fine docs out there, I am not slamming the profession, but how many of you guys know the ones that I am talking about?

They mostly are the ones that will insist that you call them Doc instead of their fist name.

HMM.... soap box time... sorry
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Higgy-

Won't those type of people never let you call them "Doc"?

"I'm a DOCTOR!"

So's my dad, doc. :P
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Yes you are correct.

I am sorry if I offended you. As I stated, I was not trying to bash the profession. :oops:

It is just in that profession you run across the type that I was pointing out more often then in other fields, or os it seems to me.

So please accept my apiologies as it was not meant as a personal attack, just an observation of personalities that I run across.

THere are plenty of bad pilots out there, many of whom are merely passengers in their own plane while acting as PIC, and that was the point I was trying to make.

It would have been smart of me to talk about it those terms first.
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I have landed a 172 with the right main flat. My Maule with a flat tail wheel and at a different time time with a flat main. Scary times none the less. I did not know the flat at the time on the 172. Until it tried to leave the field. The main on the Maule I had a suspicion and compensated, was on a soft field & worked out OK. The tail wheel flat was a real surprise and required every ounce of skill I ever thought I had. I have the highest regard for anyone who manages a landing with a flat wheel and walks away. I have managed to do it and I would say that it was all luck and really lucky timing.
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Whoa, Higgy!........

My post was actually intended as sarcastic humor, guess I missed the mark- MY bad. For clarification, I am not a doctor of any sort, my father is a veterinarian.

No apologies nesseccary, I feel like I owe you.

Now can we all get off the "sappy sofa" and talk like guys?
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LOL,

OK. I have not been around long enough yet to figure out who is who and what they do.

sssscool man.

We will be havin fun man.

Dane
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Soarinhiggy,
That Stinson in your picture looks awfully familiar, was it on Barnstormers for some time? I have looked at Stinsons, but I was too chicken to make my first plane something that had fabric covering. I guess I don't know enough about aircraft ownership yet to take a plunge that could be financially devastating.
Oh yeah, back to what I was saying, very nice looking Stinson. If the weather ever clears and I can get my plane home, maybe I will run across you somewhere in the wild blue yonder.

N3110V
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Bonth,

Yes it was on Barnstormer for a month last summer. I called on it the first day that the add ran, but it took me a month to get back to Main and pick it up.

Thanks, I like it.

This is the second ragbag that I have owned. I had a citabria and this one. I flew a lot of spam cans and I keep coming back to ragbags.

There are good points to both construction methods.

I am getting ready to do some work on this one, repitch the prop to climb, larger tires and upgrade the brakes.

This one only has 165 hp, some day I will do an engine swap and put in 220-260 hp, that really makes them go.

These old birds have a good useful load, mine is 1090 pounds.

Thanks for the compliment.

Dane
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