Pull early, pull often!

Letter to NTSB concerning early access to factual data

Today, I was invited to submit comments on a form used by NTSB investigators to prepare for press briefings after an aviation accident. This outreach to GA type clubs was part of the NTSB focus on GA safety seeking ways that can the NTSB help us by providing...

Published 3 Apr 2013 19:14 by Rick Beach

Filed under: NTSB, accident investigation, COPA

COPA Safety: Pull Often! (from Cirrus Pilot magazine Jan/Feb 2013)

COPA Safety: Pull Often! by Rick Beach What a difference a year makes. In the last half of 2011, we saw 11 fatal Cirrus accidents and only one CAPS save. In the last half of 2012, we saw six fatal accidents and four CAPS saves. A year later, that's...

Published 13 Mar 2013 15:29 by Rick Beach

Recalibrating the flying hours for the Cirrus fleet

In the past few months, COPA has worked with Cirrus Aircraft engineering to recalibrate the estimates of flying time for the 5,300 aircraft produced since mid-1999. The Cirrus reliability engineering team maintains a database of aircraft hours by serial...

Published 8 Dec 2012 16:07 by Rick Beach

In Last Six Months, Half the Fatal Accidents and Way More CAPS Saves

Compare the past six months with the same time last year. You will see half the fatal accidents and way more CAPS saves. What a difference a year makes! Last year, in the last six months of 2011, we saw 11 fatal accidents in Cirrus SR2X aircraft with...

Published 8 Dec 2012 3:03 by Rick Beach

Filed under: CAPS, accident statistics

Refining what we call a CAPS Save

In the accident history of Cirrus accidents, we appreciate the survival of people after a CAPS event due to the innovative safety feature of the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). When the CAPS parachute system has been activated within design parameters...

Published 22 Nov 2012 11:25 by Rick Beach

Filed under: CAPS, CAPS activations, CAPS saves

On cognitive dissonance in flying

In the thread, Cirrus fatal #89 in SR20 N764RV near Moscow, TN on 11 July 2012 , while discussing the early indications that the accident pilot departed VFR and encountered IMC conditions, the difficulty of people being offended or put-off by comments...

Published 16 Jul 2012 9:48 by Rick Beach

Early Reflections on CAPS Pull #32 by Dick McGlaughlin in the Bahamas

Dr. Richard “Dick” McGlaughlin and his daughter Elaine made national news after they used the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) to splash down in the azure blue waters near the Bahamas. Their landing under that big red-and-white parachute...

Published 9 Jan 2012 22:34 by Rick Beach

Observing a dramatic reduction in Cirrus fatal accidents

I posted an observation about a dramatic reduction in fatal accidents a week ago while updating the Cirrus accident statistics for the upcoming Cirrus Pilot Proficiency Program (CPPP) events , Here's a chart of the number of fatal Cirrus accidents...

Published 11 May 2011 8:22 by Rick Beach

Ban low-speed flying "phobia" -- insights from John King for Cirrus pilots

As I posted in a separate thread about the SAFE symposium (see COPA participation in SAFE GA pilot training reform symposium ), John King presented some counter-intuitive solutions to create a sea-change in the culture of aviation. One applies to Cirrus...

Published 9 May 2011 15:32 by Rick Beach

Reflections on Cirrus fatal #65 at Chapel Hill, NC on 12 July 2010

This blog is the second attempt to share lessons and insights gained from studying a Cirrus fatal accident, Cirrus fatal #65 in SR20 N527MJ near Chapel Hill (was Sr 20 Down Chapel Hill) . (My first blog explored the loss of engine power at Buttonville...

Published 1 May 2011 12:16 by Rick Beach

Filed under: NTSB Dockets, Chapel Hill, fatal accident #65, Deb Markwood, Tom Pitts

Reflections on Cirrus fatal #61 near Buttonville Airport in Canada

SR20 C-GYPJ crashed into a building and two people died last 25 May, 2010. The accident was extensively discussed on the COPA forums in two threads: Cirrus Fatal #61 in SR20 C-GYPJ near Buttonville Airport, Toronto, Canada Transport Canada report on Buttonville...

Published 5 Mar 2011 10:50 by Rick Beach

Filed under: CAPS, CAPS decision criteria, off-airport

Tales of CAPS Pulls -- Guidance for Cirrus Instructors

At the CPPP in Van Nuys in 2010, we had the good fortune to have two Cirrus pilots who have pulled the CAPS parachute handle and survived. That prompted me to spend a bit of time with each of them to inquire about their experiences. This is the second...

Published 30 Jan 2011 11:03 by Rick Beach

Filed under: CAPS, CAPS decision criteria, instructors

Noting the frequency of CAPS pulls and fatal Cirrus accidents

During a post-event discussion thread about CAPS pull #30 near Kiowa, CO , I was prompted to prepare a frequency graph that showed the number of CAPS saves over time. I already had a graph that showed the frequency of fatal Cirrus accidents by quarter...

Published 30 Jan 2011 10:30 by Rick Beach

Filed under: CAPS, CAPS decision criteria

Partners in Command experience the Simtrain Simulator

At each of the more popular CPPP weekend recurrent training events , we encourage COPA members to bring their right-seat partners for the Partner in Command (PIC) course. The course spends 3 hours on the Saturday morning exploring how a partner can handle...

Published 17 Jan 2011 15:40 by Rick Beach

Filed under: CPPP, Lone Mountain Aviation, simulator, Simtrain, partner in command, The Flight Academy

Tales of CAPS Pulls -- The Decision

At the recent CPPP in Van Nuys, we had the good fortune to have two Cirrus pilots who have pulled the CAPS parachute handle and survived. That prompted me to spend a bit of time with each of them to inquire about their experiences. This is the first of...

Published 17 Oct 2010 15:54 by Rick Beach

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