Cirrus Trim Runaway Fatality

A recreation of the Montgomery Executive Airport Cirrus SR20 crash that claimed the life of the sole occupant, who was apparently a student pilot. The pilot stated to air traffic control (ATC) prior to the crash that he experience trim runaway, but could have mistaken that for Garmin's envelope stability protection (ESP) system.

[gottafly]

I had a trim runaway in a Cirrus in the pattern (relay failure). The AC went to full up trim on downwind @ 100kn and about 20” MP. We were at stall in what felt like a few seconds. It is absolutely possible to overpower the trim and land, which is what I did. Though initially I needed both hands on the stick. I still have the burnt relay sitting on my desk as a reminder. Sympathies to all those impacted.

[georgemichael]

I met the pilot that was the first person to actually use the life saving parachute in the SR 20 she was a lady in her 70’s flying in south Texas she told me that Cirrus was so thrilled at the outcome and how much the frame of the aircraft was still intact if they could have back that aircraft for obvious reasons that they would give her a brand new one and she said deal.

[crab]

I had a "Trim runaway" in my schools 2019 SR-20 on short final. The aircrafts stall system glitched and was indicating a stall at 95kts descending, I was on an ILS approach and the stall warning horn went off, I disengaged autopilot and kept hand flying the approach, 5 seconds later another stall warning, and this time ESP (electronic stability protection) engaged and though the plane was in a level descent, the system engaged the autopilot and began trying to roll the plane to the right with aileron trim. I remember hitting the disengage button and holding the stick fully left to keep the plane level, the autopilot would disengage and immediately come back on and try to roll the plane erratically. After the second autopilot disengagement I had to hold down the A/P disengage button, full control forces on the stick and do the missed approach, then on climbout go into the system settings and disable ESP. Only after that would the autopilot remain off. The stall warning message went off 3 more times in the pattern as I took the plane around to finally land. It was a godsend I had my instructor there to hold the plane on climb so I could disable the ESP, and that he knew that would work, I was in a frenzy looking for the autopilot breaker and If i had been alone trying to climb out fighting the autopilot while simultaneously looking for the circuit breaker below my knee, who knows what would have happened. These things apparently aren't uncommon in the Cirrus, schools using cirrus need to start training solo students how to handle these events.

[johnnyutah]

Been reviewing this accident with some Cirrus instructors. Is it possible the student pilot got confused, gripped the yoke, and held down the comm button on the front (hence the “stuck mic” call from ATC) - thinking he was disengaging the red AP button on top of the yoke?
Or was this an actual AP or ESP failure?

The SR20 Before Takeoff checklist requires engaging the AP on the ground, muscling through the controls (which DOES require some force/effort but its doable), and then disconnecting the AP to ensure no control issues in flight. However, there’s no mention of checking ESP and you have to dig through the MFD panel System Setup to disengage ESP before practicing stalls, slow flight, steep turns etc in flight.

[Flying_fisher]

The Cirrus should have a trim wheel... it's ridiculous that it doesn't. Flying the pilatus for a couple years it always drove me crazy to not have a Trim wheel, Far preferred my time in the King Air and Caravan. Parachute or no a GA airplane should always have a way to disconnect electric trim and use manual trim input. "Mild control forces" are often around 50 pounds, that's a lot to hold for an extended period of time, I'd be very curious to know if this was the ESP or not.

[kilcar]

This is so sad. Heartfelt condolences and prayers to the family of that Marine pilot.

[michaelstevenson]

Brilliant work again, I really feel for the pilot, must have been terrifying. Thanks again for your work.

[paulwilden]

That's the most professional and no-nonsense narration regarding an aircraft incident I've ever heard. You certainly know your stuff- subbed and thank you

[skyhawkbill]

Student pilot in a Cirrus reminds me of the old "Doctor in a Bonanza". Rich guy buys a plane that is way over his head and comes to a bad end. If you want to learn to fly buy a $40k 150 and get really good in it with it's low power and sharp stall. I did and had over 200 hours before I moved up. Eventually flew most of the high performance singles. Also the 300 hours in the old 150 were a blast. I visited almost every field on the LA sectional, plus Phoenix, Vegas, Reno etc, with one radio, a transponder, a compass and a clock.

[urhiredhr]

At 17 yrs of age, with about 4 hours of solo experience I also had a trim issue. I was flying a Cherokee 140 and after take off, I realized the trim was full up. I was confused and frightened. The more power, the higher the pitch. I had a knee helping me keep the yoke forward against the never ending pressure. At this point, I struggled to understand which way to turn the trim on the ceiling handle! I was determined to live and I did. Remaining in the pattern, I landed and survived. It was one of the most frightening experiences I had, as a pilot because I was so scared, I could not remember which way to turn the trim (on the ceiling) and I did not want to worsen the situation.

[jimdigriz]

The trim is a spring cartridge in a Cirrus. You can pull the breaker, but unlike my old Cessna 337, you can’t manually retrim with a manual wheel, (kinda good with a 10 foot wide elevator on the 337). I always thought this was a bad cirrus design flaw. That and no nose gear steering, which I considered just cheap.

[MAgaSUXX]

I am a retired airline Captain, age 66, started flying at age 15, CFI at age 18...B747, DC-10, B727 CA. and then G2, 3, 4, 5, 550...instructor. I never had one CLOSE CALL...NEVER...nothing NADA....bought a brand new Cirrus SR-22 in 2005. Took the factory training and proceeded to NEARLY KILL MYSELF....kept that airplane 7 years and put 75 hours on it...THERE.. do the math.

[MrWave]

Wise words, Sir! I was a sales pilot at Diamond Air, former HOAC (Hoffmann Aircraft), between 1992 and 1995. My conclusion: You can fly an aircraft with your brain and you can fly it with your ass. Flying MUST become instinctive. You have to FEEL the plane. Like some crows at a ridge in a stormy day. You MUST train emergency procedures. I did my aerobatic training in the former Czechoslovakia (LKJH). On EVERY training flight the instructor suddenly pulled out power and I had to get the plane (Z142) on a suitable field. In 5m (!) above ground I was allowed to apply power again. On many flights he put the baby in a flat spin and I had to recover it. If you practice this a while it becomes second nature. Here in Austria (and the rest of Europe I guess) nothing of this kind of REAL emergency training. It's a lack of proper (=REALISTIC) training that kills pilots.

[markserbu]

Wow...tragic story but excellent, professional video! Great job!

[Tom-muzy]

In some airplanes like the Beech 99 and the MD-80, the trim doesn't just run the elevator, it runs the entire horizontal stabilizer and if it goes full north or south you don't have enough elevator to counter it. When I trained people in the Beech 99, runaway trim was trained and a part of every checkride.

[CFI-King]

I wonder how many CFIs would be comfortable giving a HP endorsement to student pilot. There's a reason C172s and Cherokees are the most common trainers - they are simple, low powered, and docile.

[John-wejx]

Was just discussing the fatal crash in Australia of a Cirrus SR22 4 days ago killing an experienced pilot and his 3 grandchildren in good weather - couldn’t understand how this could have happened in cruise - this video provides a possible explanation

[Helibeaver]

Been too long. Glad to hear from this channel again.

[HedroomMax]

Nice message in the end of the video. Excellent work you've done. Condolences to the family.

[arnaldoleon]

I once took off in an SR22 with the autopilot engaged and it was definitely a few tense seconds trying to figure out why the aircraft was fighting me so hard on takeoff. As a student pilot I would have probably lost it...