Aircraft
Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
CE-09-01
October 21, 2008
This is information only. Recommendations
aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) advises you of
an airworthiness concern regarding the safety of rescue personnel
responding to accident airplanes equipped with a ballistic parachute
system that has not been activated. Specifically, this SAIB addresses
the need for placards on aircraft equipped with a ballistic parachute
system. The placards are to alert rescue personnel to the presence and
potential danger of the onboard parachute system that may still be
active. Typecertificated airplanes equipped with the ballistic
parachute system include: Cirrus Design Corporation (CDC) Models SR20
and SR22; Symphony Aircraft Industries, Inc. Model SA 160 with
Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA02239CH installed; Cessna Models
150, 150A, 150B, 150C, 150D, 150E, 150F, 150G, 150H, 150J, 150K, 150L,
150M, A150K, A150L, A150M, 152, and A152 (with STC SA64CH installed);
Cessna Models 172,172A, 172B, 172C, 172D, 172E, 172F, 172G, 172H, 172I,
172K, 172L, 172M, 172N, 172P, 172Q, 172R, 172S, R172J and R172K (with
STC SA01679CH installed); 182G, 182H, 182J, 182K, 182L, 182M, 182N,
182P, 182Q, 182R, 182S, 182T, T182, and T182T (with STC SA01999CH
installed).
Background
The FAA has received recommendations regarding the need for improved
placards on airplanes equipped with a ballistic parachute system. These
recommendations came from reports of rescue personnel approaching
accident airplanes, unaware of the danger associated with active
ballistic parachute systems within the accident airplanes. The rocket
deploys from the aircraft at a high rate of speed and could severely
injure or kill unknowing persons in the vicinity of the rocket.
Regulatory, first responder and industry groups assembled to establish
standards for the installation and marking of ballistic parachute
systems, resulting in standard ASTM F 2316-06 “Standard Specification
for Airframe Emergency Parachutes for Light Sport Aircraft”. The
standard used internationally-recognized protocols to develop the
placard design. The Small Airplane Directorate has proposed using the
placard requirements found in ASTM document F 2316-06 for part 23
typecertificated airplanes with ballistic parachute systems installed.
The FAA is taking this airworthiness action after receiving input from
Cirrus Design Corporation and airplane owners/operators through
relevant associations and type clubs. In addition, we also collected
input from several firefighting organizations including International
Association of Fire Chiefs, Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting working
group, and the National Fire Protection Association. Recommendations
were developed using the procedures found in the Small Airplane
Directorate Airworthiness Directives Manual Supplement (Airworthiness
Concern Process Guide).
At this time, this airworthiness concern is not considered an unsafe
condition that would warrant an airworthiness directive action under
Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR part 39).
Recommendations
We recommend that all that make/model airplanes affected in the list
above be equipped with ASTM-conforming placards suitable to draw the
attention of first responders. ASTM F 2316-06 specifies that the
aircraft should be externally marked with one danger placard at the
exit point of the rocket/parachute and another warning placard on
either side of the aircraft that is visible to those entering or
approaching the aircraft.
Placard kits for airplanes that have ballistic parachute systems
manufactured by Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS), including Cirrus
aircraft, are available for purchase from BRS at (651) 457-7491. The
placards are identified by: danger placard part number 006230-01 (one
placard) and warning placard part number 006231-01 (two placards). The
combined kit is available for $10. BRS has been shipping placards that
meet ASTM standard F 2316-06 for some time. If your airplane is
currently equipped with placards, please check with BRS to see if they
are identical to the placards referenced above.
For Further Information Contact
Bob Stegeman, Aerospace Engineer, FAA Small Airplane Directorate, 901
Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-4140; email:
Robert.Stegeman@faa.gov