Hi Frans,
I'm one of those rare pilots who also enjoys baling out of serviceable
aircraft as a pastime. I have only made about a 100 jumps from about 10'k
each. I own and pack my own main parachute, which is a square, ram air
(therefore steerable) type wing. My deployment system allows for hand
deployment of the drogue chute when clear of the airframe. Most
pilot/gliding reserve parachutes tend to be round (barely steerable) and
deployed by a rip cord that releases a spring loaded drogue. My comments
therefore need to be taken in the context of what I am used to, rather than
having practised departing a spinning, broken aircraft:
1) What are the chances of getting out of a Europa in level flight (frozen
controls). Will you get hit by the tailplane if you just climb out and let
go?
If the aircraft was in straight and level flight, getting out is simple.
Open the door, let it get ripped off in the slipstream, reduce speed to just
above stall if possible, stand up on the seat, step out onto the wing, using
the cockpit rim as a handhold, sit on the trailing edge and drop off. If
you have time and are alone, climb further out on the wing so that either
the aircraft rolls and drops you off the wing tip (preferably head first so,
if anything, it's your feet that strike the tailplane) or else if it doesn't
roll then get far enough out along the wing to definitely avoid the
tailplane when you leave the aircraft. However, steady flight IMHO seems
like the least likely scenario in which you would find yourself needing to
leave the aircraft.
2) What are the chances of getting out of a Europa after some sort of
structural failure where the aircraft may be spinning and tumbling? Will
G-forces pin you down in your seat?
Again, once the doors are opened and gone, it's surprising how motivated you
will be to get yourself out of the aircraft. However, there is a high risk
of being struck by the aircraft as you leave it. Broken limbs you will
survive, but skydivers wear helmets and if you are struck and left
unconscious then you won't be pulling the rip cord. Skydivers fit
electronic "life savers" that fire the reserve if you at freefall speeds
below 750'. For obvious reasons you won't want one of those on your
parachute.
3) Is there any statistics about the amount of lifes saved due to parachutes
in General Aviation applications?
No information on this sorry.
Personal opinions, in case of being forced to make an emergency landing:
1) Over water, would you opt for being the first one to try to land the
Europa on open water, or rather jump out by parachute?
Land on water - aircraft float if they land intact, parachutes tangle you up
and drown you unless you are trained in water landing emergencies and carry
a cut away knife.
2) In non-hospitalised area's (like mountainous terrain), would you try to
make the best of it and land in the trees or river down the valley, or
rather jump out?
Pretty even odds on this - on a round chute with minimum steerage you could
end up in a nasty place and injured landing in trees or on high rocky areas.
At least the airframe will take some of the impact - if it's still flying.
If there is a mid-air break up, definitely take the parachute option!
All in all, I have not considered flying with an emergency parachute for the
following reasons:
(a) They are heavy, require regular maintenance and without modification
they will not sit comfortably in a Europa seat.
(b) Gliders and aerobatic pilots wear them because of the risk of mid-air
collision (when thermalling) and loss of control - a properly maintained
Europa flown within limits shouldn't do either of these.
(c) Most light aircraft flying is done in the 2'k to 4'k height bands. You
need a comfortable 1,500' decision height to allow you to get clear of the
aircraft to deploy your parachute and have it open safely. That's not much
time to make the decision to abandon the aircraft and execute it. Unless
there is a very obvious sign that the aircraft is unflyable, you probably
won't have made the abandon aircraft decision before you get below 1,500'.
Essentially, while there are circumstances where you will avoid death or
serious injury by using a parachute, they are rare in normal flight
operations. It is usually the lower risk option to stay with and fly the
airframe. There is at least one example in the UK of a glider instructor
telling his pupil to bale out and then going on to land the aircraft safely.
Given the choice, I would spend the money and the weight allowance on a fire
extinguisher, first aid kit and EPIRB instead.
Hope that helps,
Best wishes
Richard C-C
G-RPCC
912S Mono - well more of a wheel chock and 2 canoes at the moment......
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Frans Veldman
Sent: 14 December 2009 11:48
Subject: Europa-List: Emergency parachutes, opinions?
--> <frans@paardnatuurlijk.nl>
Dear fellow experimental aviators,
I'm looking at the pro's and con's of emergency parachutes. I'm sure some
people on this forums have thought about this subject and formed opinions
about it, and I would like to hear more about it. I have no experience with
parachutes nor any opinion further than that I can imagine that there are a
few occasions where parachutes could save ones life. Even this could be
unrealistic imagination of course.
Questions are:
Any opinions welcome,
Frans
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
07:37:00
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