> C E R T A L E R T

**ADVISORY CAUTIONARY NON-DIRECTIVE**

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT Ken Gilliam, AAS-310 (407) 812.6331 Ext.134,
ken.gilliam@faa.gov

+-----------+----------------------------+----------------------------+
| **DATE:** | **10/28/2004**             | **No. 04-13**              |
+-----------+----------------------------+----------------------------+
| **TO:**   | **Airport Operators, FAA   |                            |
|           | Airport Certification      |                            |
|           | Safety Inspectors**        |                            |
+-----------+----------------------------+----------------------------+
| *         | #### Rocket-Deployed E     |                            |
| *TOPIC:** | mergency Parachute Systems |                            |
+-----------+----------------------------+----------------------------+

This CERTALERT is to provide ARFF personnel with the information
required to safely deal with the discovery of an unfired rocket-deployed
emergency parachute system (sometimes called a **ballistic parachute**)
at the scene of an aircraft accident. While these devices are intended
to save lives, they have the potential to cause injuries or even death
to rescue workers.

While there are several manufacturers of ballistic parachute systems on
the market, the BRS Inc. is a prevalent system found in the industry. In
addition to BRS ballistic parachute, there are several other brands
called Pioneer, Second Chantz, Advanced Ballistic Systems, Galaxy, or GQ
Security.

The BRS whole aircraft recovery system is intended as an option for
pilots that have concluded that a safe landing may be difficult if not
impossible. However, in certain instances, there may have been no
opportunity to deploy the system prior to impact. In those cases where
the impact was notably violent, it is quite likely the system will have
fired as a result of airframe breakup or distortion. This leaves the
final scenario, one in which the parachute system has not been activated
due to crash forces, and the system's rocket is still very much alive
and capable of being fired.

A keen eye and training can help the first responder to first identify
the presence of a BRS system and then carefully render it completely
harmless. We have attached a BRS document that is intended to provide
information to emergency personnel, which may be referenced at the scene
of an aviation incident. The company has also provided a power point
presentation that provides an overview of how best to accomplish these
tasks. This power point presentation can be found on the web at
[www.faa.gov/arp](http://www.faa.gov/arp). Then click on Safety and
Operations. It is also located on the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting
Working Group web site at www.arffwg.org.\"

Attachment

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_[OSB]{.underline}\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
[10/28/2004]{.underline}

Benedict D. Castellano, Manager Date

Airport Safety and Operations Division, AAS-300

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="2.25in" height="1.101388888888889in"}

**BRS Ballistic Parachutes:**

**Information for Emergency Personnel**

Airplane crashes are rather rare events, thankfully. This helps
illustrate that aircraft, whether commercial airliners, general aviation
aircraft or recreational sport planes, are generally quite safe when
flown by competent pilots.\
\
However, the rare nature of these crashes also means that those who
arrive first at the scene of an accident (rescue workers, investigating
officers, fire fighters, and other safety personnel) may be overwhelmed
or not recognize the parts of the aircraft particularly well.\
\
One potential hazard rescue workers may encounter is an unfired
rocket-deployed emergency parachute system (sometimes called a
**ballistic parachute**). While these devices are intended to save
lives, they have the potential to cause injuries or even death to rescue
workers.

An emergency call takes you to the scene of an aircraft accident.
Victims inside may be injured. You want to act quickly but people at the
scene warn you about a rocket-deployed parachute installed on this
airplane. The pilot did not activate the safety device and now you may
find yourself working on or near the airplane with its ballistic device
still ready to fire. You want to help the victims, but you don\'t want
to harm yourself or others around you.\
\
Perhaps the occupants escaped without serious injury and may be out of
the plane. But the wreckage must be dealt with and a damaged aircraft
with a ballistically-deployed parachute can be lethal. What do you do?\
\
In the hope of preventing a secondary tragedy, this article attempts to
answer the questions facing emergency personnel.

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="3.375in"
height="2.334722222222222in"}**What Does \"Ballistic\" Mean?**\
\
The term ballistic in this context has nothing to do with guns or
ammunition. Instead it refers to a means of extracting a parachute. For
Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS) today, this means a **rocket-deployed**
emergency parachute system.\
\
Used as intended, these BRS-brand emergency parachute systems have saved
over 165 lives. More correctly stated - they save lives if used.
However, the pilot must elect to deploy the system, completely different
than, say, an airbag which deploys automatically when certain conditions
develop. Because the pilot (or his passenger) must pull the activating
handle, sometimes the units are not used.

The pilot may have felt he could rescue the plane from its predicament.
Or he may have been unable to deploy for physical or other reasons, such
as being at very low altitude. Regardless of why a ballistic parachute
was not used, the fact remains for safety personnel that when handling
an accident where a BRS unit was not deployed, a potentially dangerous
device now confronts them.

**How Dangerous Are They?**

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="3.375in" height="2.53125in"}

The rocket motors are ignited by pulling an activation handle in the
cockpit. They then accelerate to over 100 mph in the first tenth of a
second after ignition. While the total firing period is only one second,
someone in the path of an escaping rocket could be seriously injured or
killed. These are powerful rockets (about 1½-2 inches diameter and 8-10
inches long) that work very efficiently. At left is a test of a Cirrus
system showing the 55 pound parachute pack being pulled by the rocket
motor. This is a fraction of a second after ignition.\
\
The danger to safety personnel may now be more obvious. A rescue worker
who disregards the position of the ballistic parachute system, or who
moves the aircraft without determining the existence of a ballistic
parachute system may put him or herself in considerable jeopardy. BRS
has worked with NTSB and FAA personnel, as well as rescue personnel
throughout the country and around the world. We have assembled this
information for safety personnel to disarm these systems, but caution is
required.

**COMPONENT DESCRIPTION/INSTALLATION DIAGRAMS**

A BRS unit is comprised of four major elements: Activation Handle,
Activation Cable or *Housing*, Rocket Motor Assembly and Parachute
Container.

The first thing emergency people will see may be a red firing handle.
This will usually be located near the seats, as it must be close to the
pilot. The red firing handle will connect to the activation housing, the
flexible cable that links the firing handle to the igniter.

In the picture below, see that each handle is secured with a safety pin.
This is to remain with the handle until the aircraft departs for flight.
The pilot should then remove the pin. **A first step for first
responders is to place some type of 3/16 inch pin or rod into the handle
holder.** This provides some measure of security as you proceed to
further disarm the system.

![](media/image5.jpeg){width="5.997222222222222in"
height="2.6381944444444443in"}

![](media/image6.jpeg){width="6.002083333333333in"
height="2.7909722222222224in"}

**PARACHUTE CONTAINERS**

The parachute may be housed in a fabric covering called a *softpack*, in
a fiberglass box called a *VLS* (vertical launch system), or a white
aluminum *canister*. Each of the various container types may be mounted
in a variety of locations, according to aircraft design.

![](media/image7.jpeg){width="3.625in" height="3.54375in"}

At right is the BRS **Canister** system, very commonly used in a wide
variety of ultralight, experimental and sport aircraft. They come in
sizes for aircraft ranging from 500 to 1200 pounds GTW. Below are the
softpack and VLS systems.

![](media/image8.jpeg){width="1.5in" height="1.1201388888888888in"}

![](media/image9.jpeg){width="1.5in" height="1.1236111111111111in"}

**CIRRUS**

![](media/image10.jpeg){width="3.647222222222222in"
height="4.201388888888889in"}

The photo at left shows the **Cirrus** parachute installed into its
stowage area, located just behind the baggage compartment. It is
normally covered by a sheet metal panel and interior trim. The rocket
motor is mostly hidden behind the aluminum beam; the igniter is visible
in the upper right center as a black cylinder. The Cirrus parachute is
contained within a heavy nylon bag, so it is a *softpack* by definition.

**CIRRUS**

![](media/image11.png){width="3.9305555555555554in"
height="5.055555555555555in"}

This illustration shows the routing of the activation cable in a Cirrus
SR20 or SR22 aircraft. Unfortunately, it is covered entirely by
headliner panels. The best place to expose the cable is just aft of the
baggage door, near the upper right corner.

**Cessna 172**

![](media/image12.jpeg){width="2.2243055555555555in"
height="2.484722222222222in"}![](media/image13.jpeg){width="2.009027777777778in"
height="2.4944444444444445in"}
![](media/image14.jpeg){width="1.8305555555555555in"
height="2.4944444444444445in"}

Top View Interior View Activating Cable

The above three photos show the location of the parachute canister and
rocket in the **Cessna 172**. The aluminum parachute canister (large
box) is in the left rear of the baggage area, as viewed from the front
seats. The rocket is on the left of the parachute canister; the
activation cable runs down to the floorboard, under a cover, then
forward to the activation handle, located near the fuel selector.

![](media/image15.jpeg){width="2.875in" height="2.15625in"}

At left, the **C172** rocket and igniter with the plastic cover having
been removed. Inside the launch tube resides the rocket motor, shown
below. The rocket motor is secured to the igniter base by three 10-32
nylon screws which fracture at firing.

![](media/image16.jpeg){width="2.875in" height="2.152083333333333in"}

Here is another perspective of the **C172** rocket with cover removed.
It is just a few inches below the rear window, which it will readily
break through when fired.

![](media/image17.jpeg){width="2.875in" height="2.0458333333333334in"}

This is a close up of the **BRS 900** rocket motor, common to both
Cessna and Cirrus installations. It produces roughly 225 pounds of
thrust over a 1.2 second burn time and must be respected. It burns solid
propellant derived from military formulations and is very resistant to
accidental initiation.

**Cessna 182**

![](media/image18.jpeg){width="2.11875in"
height="1.8020833333333333in"}![](media/image19.jpeg){width="1.9625in"
height="1.823611111111111in"}![](media/image20.jpeg){width="2.033333333333333in"
height="1.8340277777777778in"}

Top View, thru window Top View, inside Handle Box

![](media/image21.jpeg){width="3.25in"
height="3.5069444444444446in"}Many of the design elements of the newer,
C182 ballistic parachute system are very similar to its predecessor, the
C172. The canister is rotated 90 degrees and the rocket is located *aft*
of the canister, however, the activation cable is still relatively
accessible prior to being covered on the floorboard. The best way to
reach the cable would be through the left side baggage door, if
possible. As shown here, the rocket motor and igniter are covered by the
upper and lower rocket shields, which are intended to protect the
components from bumping. To gain access to the cable, perform the
following steps:

1.  Using a Phillips screwdriver, remove the two 8-32 screws securing
    the left side of the lower rocket shield

2.  ![](media/image22.jpeg){width="3.25in"
    height="2.7291666666666665in"}Place force on the shield in an effort
    to move it *away* from the parachute canister. Even though there are
    two more screws on the right side, it should fracture and may then
    be pushed out of the way.

3.  You will then see the igniter and the activation cable, as at left.

4.  Using the Felco cutter, or equivalent, proceed to cut the cable 1"
    -- 2" from the end.

5.  The rocket has now been rendered safe, and it may be removed for
    disposal or safe storage.

![](media/image23.jpeg){width="3.25in" height="2.438888888888889in"}

> **Note:** This photo shows the routing of the activation cable between
> the front seats in either C172 or C182 installs. It is partially
> protected by aluminum channel, as you see in the right of the photo.
> Aluminum tape is also used to secure the cable to the floor. For any
> reason, should you be unable to access the cable near the igniter,
> this is a secondary point of access.

**[HISTORICAL NOTES:]{.underline}**

**ROCKET OR DROGUE GUN?**

In 1987, a determination was made that a solid propellant **rocket
motor** was the best choice to extract the parachute. It is, therefore,
increasingly unlikely that emergency personnel will encounter the older
systems which employed a device called a *drogue gun*. The drogue gun is
basically a small cannon which fires a heavy weight using a propellant
charge. Both systems, however, will be located very near the parachute;
and both are disarmed using these techniques.

**CHANGES TO THE ACTIVATION HOUSING (CABLE)\
**\
The activation housing on BRS units has changed over the years. The
material formerly was a flexible, spiral-wound, bright silver stainless
tube of about a half inch diameter. Later this became a braided material
similar in appearance and size. The newest models use a black plastic
exterior that resembles a bicycle brake cable.

**[AT THE SCENE]{.underline}**\
\
Rescue personnel should first determine the **existence** of a BRS-brand
unit. You can scan for a company logo, often placed on the outside of
the aircraft. Or you can look for the unit itself. The containers, which
hold the parachute canopy, will always have a company logo on them. A
few other brands exist, but overwhelmingly, you will encounter the BRS
product. **Locate** the parachute container, rocket, activation cable
(housing) assembly and activation handle.

The activation housing, again, joins the firing handle on one end to the
rocket motor on the other. **Pulling either end away from one another
can fire the unit**. Normally the handle and the parachute unit will be
mounted securely, but as stated above, in an accident, positions may
change. Rescue workers, police officers, and fire fighters should
initially exercise extreme care when working around these systems,
especially if the airplane is severely broken up or the activation cable
appears to be tightly stretched.

Examine the parachute container. Alongside the parachute container will
be a 2-inch diameter black, silver or white tube about 10 inches in
length. This is called the **launch tube** and it contains the rocket
motor. In Cessna installations, the rocket is further covered by a
rectangular plastic or fiberglass cover.

![](media/image24.jpeg){width="3.625in" height="1.8229166666666667in"}

A rocket motor assembly consists of two principle parts: The launch
body, which will leave the launch tube when fired; and the igniter,
which remains in the launch tube after ignition. The launch tube on
newer units is covered with a plastic cap while on certain older models
it remained open.

![](media/image25.jpeg){width="2.001388888888889in"
height="1.4979166666666666in"}![](media/image26.jpeg){width="1.9861111111111112in"
height="1.4979166666666666in"}![](media/image27.jpeg){width="2.001388888888889in"
height="1.4979166666666666in"}

Cirrus/Cessna Rocket Sport Launch Tube Sport Launch Body

**HAS THE ROCKET FIRED?**

If the airframe has experienced significant breakup, there is a very
good chance that the rocket motor has been initiated. Telltale signs of
this would be the parachute canopy extracted from it's container, the
rocket motor no longer in the launch tube, a burned appearance on the
lanyards joining the rocket motor to the parachute or being unable to
locate the rocket motor at all. A rocket motor that has separated from
the igniter poses no significant hazard, unless it is exposed to fire.
Experience has shown that a rocket motor subjected to high temperatures
will not ignite in a normal manner and launch. Rather, they have been
observed to burst in a relatively non-threatening display.

**After a determination is made that the rocket is live,** **under no
circumstances should rescue personnel place any part of their person in
front of the launch tube. Clear a 90 degree area in front of the rocket
motor, extending 100 feet out, if possible.**

**THE IGNITER ASSEMBLY**

The rocket motor igniter is **NOT** an armed, hair-trigger device. It
requires a deliberate pull of about 30-40 pounds to cock and fire the
system. Both cocking and firing are accomplished by one pull of the
handle. Because of the design, the handle will come free of the handle
holder and travel roughly **two inches** unimpeded. Then, the
compressing of the spring commences. At that point, the system needs
only about **one-half inch of additional movement to ignite**.

Under certain circumstances, crash forces may physically separate the
rocket from the igniter. This separation alone greatly reduces risks.
The igniter contains two shotgun primers and a small amount of black
powder/magnesium mix and the output is a loud report and a flash of
flame. This could cause minor injury, but it is not particularly
dangerous. Should one encounter this scenario, cutting the activating
cable is still desirable.

**SEVERING THE ACTIVATION CABLE**

BRS **STRONGLY RECOMMENDS** using a Felco-brand C.16 cutter (part number
39601-63-00). This can be obtained from various sources, including Sanlo
Manufacturing Co. (219-879-0241). Greenlee Company, Div. of Textron,
manufactures similar products made specifically for cutting cables,
which can be viewed on line at:

[http://www.greenlee.textron.com](http://www.greenlee.textron.com/).
Greenlee offers several catalog numbers that would work well, including
704,705,706,718 or 727.

![](media/image28.jpeg){width="3.0in" height="1.725in"}This photo shows
the Felco cutter being used to sever one of the older style stainless
steel cable assemblies.

**NOTE: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CUT THE ACTIVATION HOUSING WITH AN ORDINARLY
BOLT CUTTER!** A bolt cutter is *NOT* effective at cutting the cable
housing. The Felco or Greenlee brand cutters gather the cable and work
with surprising ease. Care must be taken, however, not to twist the
housing while cutting it. This cutter makes a worthy addition to any
rescue organization\'s standard tool box. It has also proven useful for
cutting fences, steel cables, and other obstacles which may prevent
workers from reaching the scene of an accident or freeing occupants.

Using the diagrams and information presented here, locate a point in the
activation cable located near the igniter, then cut it using the Felco
or Greenlee cutter. Once the housing is severed, the system is rendered
relatively harmless and rescue workers should face no further danger
handling the accident victims or aircraft wreckage.

**ATTACHMENT TO THE AIRFRAME**

Worth mentioning are the mounting hardware components and attachment
bridles which connect parachute to aircraft. Made from nylon or Kevlar,
the bridles connect the canopy to designated points on the fuselage.
Conceivably, it may be necessary to remove the bridles to gain access to
components or injured parties. A sharp knife, or your Felco cutter, may
be used to sever them if required.

**DISPOSTION OF ROCKET MOTOR\
**\
Later, after immediate concerns have been addressed, emergency workers
are advised to remove the rocket motor and to completely disarm it by
removing the rocket fuel, and firing the igniter. BRS will provide
assistance for this effort, which can be obtained by calling
651-457-7491 during business hours, CST. Alone, separated from the
igniter, the rocket poses very little danger, but it should be stored in
a secure location.

**ALTERNATIVES**

Some agencies that BRS have communicated with take a very conservative
position regarding how best to handle an unfired rocket. They feel that
this is work best left to the local bomb squad. We leave such decisions
entirely up to the individuals in charge at the scene. However, if the
above steps are followed and normal precautions observed, we feel that
disarming the system can be safely accomplished by emergency personnel
without undue risk.

**A CAUTION AND DISCLAIMER**

While the advice above should prevent problems for safety personnel in
most situations, the instructions given apply to BRS brand products
only. BRS dominates the U.S. market, so encountering other systems is
unlikely. However other brands called Pioneer, Second Chantz, Advanced
Ballistic Systems, Galaxy, or GQ Security have been sold in the past.
While these systems are similar, they are not identical. BRS can provide
no information on how to disarm these systems.