The NTSB has released a new video and safety alert for first responders to warn them about hazards they may encounter when responding to an accident site of a general aviation airplane with a ballistic parachute recovery system.
The systems are rocket-powered parachutes installed on some airplanes as an optional safety device. If an in-flight emergency occurs, pilots can deploy the parachute by activating the rocket that extracts the parachute to aid the airplane’s gradual descent, reducing the potential for serious injuries to occupants.
While these systems can save lives when activated and deployed in flight, they pose a hazard to first responders at an accident site if the rocket did not activate before or during ground impact, according to NTSB officials.
The agency also released a Safety Alert on the topic.
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