Cirrus Design has flown the second production SR20 light aircraft. The first aircraft crashed during a test flight on 23 March, killing the pilot.
Duluth, Minnesota-based Cirrus plans tests to confirm that the production SR20 matches the certification prototypes. The aircraft will also be used as a maintenance testbed.
The second production aircraft was fitted with Cirrus' airframe parachute system (CAPS) for its first flight. The aircraft which crashed was not fitted with the rocket-deployed CAPS. Test pilot Scott Anderson had declared an emergency and was returning to the Duluth Airport when the aircraft crashed (Flight International 31 March - 6 April).
Following the accident, Cirrus and the US Federal Aviation Administration are conducting a review of the SR20 design and the company's production procedures. The manufacturer aims to begin customer deliveries this quarter and claims to have received more than 10 orders for the SR20 since the accident, taking the backlog to 281 firm orders.
The company has completed testing of the new Garmin avionics for the SR20 and awaits FAA approval of the installation. Cirrus has FAA approval for the aircraft's standard S-TEC System 20 autopilot. It is testing the optional System 55 autopilot with a horizontal situation indicator.
Source: Flight International
