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As of January 10, 2012, there have been 28 saves with 53 survivors in aircraft equipped with the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS).
Introduction
CAPS stands for the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System. It consists of a ballistic rocket-fired parachute that extracts a large round parachute attached to the airframe. The rocket ensures that the parachute will deploy successfully despite the attitude of the airframe in flight, such as a spin or while inverted. The parachute inflates slowly and the risers are reefed to ensure a rapid transition to stable attitude under canopy.
Tests demonstrate that within 8 seconds all forward velocity is reduced to zero (relative to wind) and descent occurs at about 1700 fpm or 17 knots. The parachute deployment airspeed was demonstrated at Vpd of 133 knots. The demonstrated loss of altitude was 400 feet from level flight and 920 feet from initiation of a 1-1/2 turn spin. One CAPS deployment occurred successfully at higher speed, 187 knots indicated airspeed, and one deployment failed at speeds estimated at over 270 knots groundspeed.
No person has died when the CAPS system deployed within design parameters
(below Vpd of 133 knots and above 920 feet in a descent).
CAPS Activations and Saves
CAPS provides an additional level of safety for the Cirrus Design SR2X fleet. However, it is not a guarantee.
There have been 32 known CAPS activations as of January 10, 2012. Of those activations, 28 deployments are considered "saves" that involved 53 survivors with one fatality (figures do not include one unborn child who was also saved in CAPS deployment #13). Four other activations were not successful deployments with five fatalities and two serious injuries.
The four unsuccessful deployments involved one activation at very high speed (likely in excess of 300 knots indicated, over twice the deployment speed), one activation at too low an altitude to fully inflate the canopy (witnesses report 50 to 200 feet above ground in a fully developed spin), another activation where the rocket took an unusual trajectory resulting in a failure to extract the parachute, and a mid-air collision where the parachute was activated by impact forces. The rocket trajectory anomaly was investigated and an airworthiness directive was published requiring a modification of the CAPS rocket assembly.
In addition, there have been several fatal accidents where the parachute has deployed by forces due to impact with the ground, which are not considered in this history.
CAPS Deployment Summaries
Here is a synopsis of all of the known CAPS parachute activations. Each summary lists the deployment by year, location and injuries, then describe the factors that lead to the activation, the activation scenario, and the landing scenario.
CAPS deployment #1, Oct 2002, Lewisville, TX, 1 uninjured; Factors: VFR departure after maintenance, aileron unhinged due maintenance error and airplane became difficult to control, after maneuvering, first parachute deployment by pilot in a certified
production airplane; Activation: low altitude, 1,500 feet; Weather: VMC; Landing: bushes near golf course
CAPS deployment #2, April 2004, Lethbridge, AB, Canada, 4 uninjured Factors: VFR night cruise, loss of control, autopilot-induced stall, night VFR over mountains, SR20 performance Activation: high altitude, deployment upon loss of control; Weather: VMC night; Landing: landed in scree in mountaneous terrain, skidded backwards 1/4-mile, helicopter extraction via parachute risers
CAPS deployment #3, April 2004, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 1 uninjured Factors: confusing instrument behavior, low IMC, departure climb, water in static system; Activation: low altitude, 1200 feet; Weather: IMC; Landing: trees
CAPS deployment #4, Sept 2004, Peters, CA, 2 uninjured Factors: VFR climb, autopilot-induced stall, rolled inverted, attempted recovery; Activation: high altitude, above 10,000 feet, activated CAPS in VMC before entering IMC; Weather: VMC, then IMC under canopy, then VMC; Landing: walnut grove
CAPS deployment #5, Feb 2005, Norden, CA, 1 fatality Factors: severe icing at 16,000' over Sierra mountains, high speed descent well above Vne of 204 knots; Activation: uncertain if intentional activation or due to airframe stress in high speed descent, parachute separated from airframe, located along track to crash site; Weather: IMC, icing; Landing: high speed impact in mountainous area
CAPS deployment #6, June 2005, Haverstraw, NY, 1 serious injury (compression fracture of vertabrae) Factors: pilot incapacitated from brain seizure, loss of conciousness, awoke and
recovered from Vne dive, determined numbness and loss of function in
legs;IFR on approach to KHPN, Activation: low altitude, last radar report at 1,600 feet and 190 knots groundspeed (well above Vpd of 133 knots); Weather: VMC; Landing: water, bay of Hudson River
CAPS deployment #7, Jan 2006, Childersburg, AL, 3 uninjured Factors: severe icing at 9,000 feet, loss of control; Activation: high altitude; Weather: IMC icing; Landing: trees
CAPS deployment #8, Feb 2006, Wagner, SD, 2 uninjured Factors: pilot disorientation in clouds, shortly after takeoff; Activation: low altitude; Weather: IMC; Landing: flat, frozen field
CAPS deployment #9, Aug 2006, Indianapolis, IN, 1 fatality, 3 serious injuries (spinal surgery) Factors: IMC, loss of control, stall/spin descent; Activation: low altitude, 528 feet in 100 knot descent, first activation of CAPS by non-pilot, parachute observed not fully deployed; Weather: IMC; Landing: water, pond among residential housing
CAPS deployment #10, Sept 2006, Bull Bay, Jamaica, 4 uninjured Factors: loss of control, VFR cruise, passenger activated when fuel streaming from tank filler openings; Activation: low altitude; Weather: VMC; Landing: trees
CAPS activation #11, Feb 2007, Sydney, Australia, 2 injuries Factors: VFR cruise, engine problems, rocket took unusual trajectory, parachute not extracted due to anomalous rocket trajectory, successful emergency off-airport landing; Activation: low altitude; Weather: VMC; Landing: trees
CAPS deployment #12, Apr 2007, Luna, NM, 1 injured Factors: IMC cruise, climb to avoid weather, loss of airspeed indication, terrain warning in IMC; Activation: low altitude, inverted, 34 knots airspeed; Weather: IMC, icing; Landing: trees, mountainous terrain
CAPS deployment #13, Aug 2007, Nantucket, MA, 2 injured Factors: VFR in IMC during approach, parachute tangled with tower wires, 1 serious injury, 1 minor injury, 1 unborn child saved; Activation: low altitude; Weather: IMC; Landing: tower, flat open terrain
CAPS deployment #14, Oct 2008, Spain, 3 uninjured Factors: IFR in
IMC during approach, pilot reported turbulence and loss of control,
parachute tangled with power line wires; Activation: low
altitude; Weather: IMC; Landing: power line
CAPS deployment #15, Nov 2008, Turriaco, Italy, 1 seriously injured, 3 uninjured Factors: fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power,
parachute deployed at low altitude and late in the power-off glide scenario, approximately 400 feet above ground; Activation: low
altitude; Weather: VMC; Landing: trees and grass
CAPS deployment #16, Dec 2008, Gouvy, Belgium, 1 minor injured Factors: icing, pilot attempted several outs but was unable to maintain altitude, Activation: low
altitude; Weather: IMC, icing; Landing: trees
CAPS deployment #17, Dec 2008, Patterson, LA, 1 uninjured Factors: pilot reported mechanical difficulties late at night over coastal marshes; Activation: high
altitude; Weather: VMC, night; Landing: canal (water)
CAPS deployment #18, Feb 2009, Deltona, FL, 2 fatalities Factors: instructional flight practicing low-speed maneuvers, witnesses report spinning aircraft; CAPS activation immediately prior to ground impact, parachute did not fully deploy; Activation: low
altitude; Weather: VMC; Landing: trees
CAPS deployment #19, Mar 2009, Gaithersburg, MC, 1 uninjured Factors: door popped open upon takeoff, pilot reported rain in the cockpit and attempted to manage door but became disoriented; Activation: low
altitude; Weather: IMC; Landing: residential street
CAPS deployment #20, Jun 2009, Mount Airy, NC, 1 uninjured Factors:
catastrophic engine failure with oil obscuring windscreen, Activation:
high
altitude, 6,000 feet above ground; Weather: IMC; Landing: level field
CAPS deployment #21, Dec 2009, Hamilton Island, Australia, 1 seriously injured
Factors: engine loss of power, misfueled with Jet-A, attempted return to airport; Activation: low
altitude, 441 feet above ocean; Weather: VMC; Landing: ocean
CAPS deployment #22, Feb 2010, Boulder, CO, 2 fatalities Factors: mid-air collision between Cirrus SR20 and tow-plane with glider in tow; parachute activated due to impact forces; Activation:
high
altitude, 8,000 feet; Weather: VMC; Landing: level field
CAPS deployment #23, May 2010, Sirdal, Norway, 4 uninjured Factors: icing induced high-speed descent followed by parachute activation, Activation:
high
altitude, 6,000 feet; Weather: VMC; Landing: uneven rocky terrain
CAPS deployment #24, 10 July 2010, Hornton, United Kingdom, 2 uninjured Factors: sprial dive while pilot distracted, VFR pilot flying in low ceilings and visibility, Activation: 2,000 feet; Weather: IMC; Landing: field surrounded by trees
CAPS deployment #25, 16 August 2010, Idabel, OK, 2 uninjured Factors: loss of engine power, rapid descent, decision to avoid off-airport landing, activated parachute, Activation: low
altitude, below 500 feet; Weather: VMC; Landing: grassy field
CAPS deployment #26, 23 August 2010, Porter, TX, 1 seriously injured Factors: go-around after aborted landing, failed to clear tree obstructions, activated parachute after first impact with a tree, Activation: low
altitude; Weather: VMC; Landing: trees
CAPS deployment #27, 30 September 2010, Mathias, WV, 2 uninjured Factors: loss of control in turbulence while on approach in stormy weather, Activation: low
altitude, perhaps 500 feet; Weather: VMC; Landing: grassy field
CAPS deployment #28, 15 December 2010, Nacogdoches, TX, 1 uninjured Factors: loss of engine power, decision to avoid off-airport landing, activated parachute, Activation: TBD; Weather: VMC, night; Landing: residential area
CAPS deployment #29, 27 January 2011, Cross City, FL, 1 uninjured Factors:
loss of engine power, decision to avoid off-airport landing, activated
parachute, Activation: TBD; Weather: VMC, night; Landing: recently logged forest with lots of stumps
CAPS deployment #30, 30 January 2011, Bennett, CO, 1 uninjured Factors: pilot disorientation due to vertigo, activated
parachute, Activation: low altitude; Weather: VMC, night; Landing: field
CAPS deployment #31, 20 November 2011, New Orleans, LA, 1 uninjured Factors: pilot reported loss of engine power and attempted return to airport then activated over Lake Pontchartrain, Activation: 300 feet; Weather: IMC, day; Landing: water
CAPS deployment #32, 7 January 2012, near Andros Island, Bahamas, 2 uninjured Factors: engine seized and propeller froze in flight due to loss of oil pressure, Activation: 2300 feet; Weather: VMC , day; Landing: water
Updated 10 January 2012