Dave Higdon/WICHITA
Cirrus Design has resumed production of the SR20 single-engined four-seat business aircraft, as the investigation continues into the crash of the first demonstrator. The first production SR20 crashed on 23 March, killing Cirrus Design's chief test pilot, Scott Anderson (Flight International, 31 March-6 April).
Despite the crash, Cirrus plans to make first deliveries in May. "We're working and progressing toward receipt of our production certificate," says the company. The focus of the crash investigation remains the aileron control system, which Anderson was testing.
Cirrus engineers had recently redesigned the aileron control system and the aircraft was into the fifth hour of flight tests designed to incorporate the change on the SR20's type certificate.
Anderson had reported a problem with the aileron system during a flight on the day before the crash, and the control linkage had been changed in an attempt to fix the problem, confirms Cirrus. Investigators are concentrating on the source of a problem Anderson reported as he returned to Duluth International Airport, Minnesota, during the second test flight.
On initial approach to Runway 27, Anderson had the SR20 yawed at least 20¼ to the right, apparently in an attempt to keep the wings level, but he overshot the runway and announced he was going around. The aircraft crashed on its second landing attempt.
Source: Flight International
