S
ECTION
3: E
MERGENCY
P
ROCEDURES
C
IRRUS
D
ESIGN
I
NTRODUCTION
SR20
3-4
P/N 11934-005
option for occupants as compared to continued flight or traditional
countermeasures. Pilots flying Cirrus aircraft must be properly trained and
familiar with CAPS guidance, limitations, and operating procedures. Refer
to Section 10,
Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS)
, for CAPS
deployment and guidance information.
Preflight Planning
Enroute emergencies caused by weather can be minimized or eliminated by
careful flight planning and good judgment when unexpected weather is
encountered.
Preflight Inspections/Maintenance
In-flight mechanical problems in the aircraft will be extremely rare if
proper preflight inspections and maintenance are practiced. Always
perform a thorough walk-around inspection before any flight to ensure
that no damage occurred during the previous flight or while the airplane
was on the ground. Pay special attention to any oil leaks or fuel stains that
could indicate engine problems.
• N
OTE
•
Refer to
Section 4: Normal Procedures, "Preflight Inspection"
for
more information.
Methodology
Aircraft emergencies are dynamic events. Because of this, it is impossible to
enumerate every action a pilot should properly undertake in response to a
particular situation. However, four basic actions can be applied to any
emergency. They are:
Maintain Aircraft Control
Many minor aircraft emergencies turn into major ones when the pilot fails
to maintain aircraft control. Do not panic and do not fixate on a particular
problem. Over-attention to a warning light during an instrument approach
can lead to a pilot-induced unusual attitude, and possibly worse. To avoid
this, even in an emergency: always aviate, navigate, and communicate, in
that order. Never let anything interfere with your control of the airplane.
Never stop flying.
Analyze the Situation
Once you are able to maintain control of the aircraft, assess the situation.
Read all warning and caution messages. Evaluate the engine parameters.
Consider all aircraft operational information at your disposal
.
Reissue A
