I wonder if anyone can shed some light on the maintenance requirements and servicing time frames of the CAPS system. My understanding is that the chute will have to be replaced after a certain period of time and that the explosive charge inspected periodically. I’m also curious has to how the chute lanyards are inspected if they’re “embedded.”
Do the names Continental, Hartzell, Cleveland, Champion, Slick, Brackett, Woodward, Garmin, Arnav, S-Tec, GE, and Duracell sound familiar?
With the greatly reduced parts count in a composite fuselage, there is an amazingly low number of unique parts on the SR20.
The airframe inspection should be the only significant difference in the annual inspection.
I hope that Cirrus Design will keep an updated annual inspection checklist on the internet.
The IA mechanics doing the inspections on the metal Pipers, Cessnas, Bonanzas, and Mooneys had training that emphasized round engines and tube and fabric, but they do have experience.
For the SR20 it would be nice to have a mechanic with years of experience doing inspections on make and model but that isn’t available.
Next best would be the factory and after that would the approved service centers.
One of them is reasonably close to me (Sheboygan -barely an hour’s drive).
I had an annual done there about ten years ago on a Cessna and they were one of the best shops that I have dealt with.
I would think that the factory should want to see the first ten or twenty aircraft after one year in service but that would be a real logistics problem in most cases.
I would be interested in having the factory do it if they would give me a loaner (perhaps a 300hp prototype?) or if it could be done on a weekend.
Since I put the wrong message under this one I guess I should respond to this one correctly too.
The CAPS most be serviced ony by Cirrus Design authorized personnel only.
The rocket motor and parachute are certified for ten years then must be replaced with a new or refurbished unit.
The CAPS reefing line cutter has the same requirements at three years.
I believe the reefing line cutter allows the aircraft to hang in its slightly nose down position and is fired shortly after the parachute has deployed behind the aircraft.
Oops! That should have been under the previous message about annual maintenace.
Oops! That should have been under the previous message about annual maintenace.
Are these Pyro’s considered Class C explosives? If they are there are many airports which prohibit bringing these onto airport property. Better check before you land.