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Ask a Tech: Cirrus CAPS Line Cutter

Six-year life-limited components, the pyrotechnic line cutter replacement is a straightforward task, but bring it to the pros.

Larry Anglisano
Verified

Edited By:

Omar Filipovic

This month’s Ask a Tech topic comes from a reader who is doing everything right when it comes to buying an early-gen Cirrus SR22. Aside from the normal engine, airframe and avionics evaluations that should be conducted during the prebuy process, an important system to consider from an upkeep standpoint is the CAPS, or Cirrus Airframe Parachute System.

White it’s widely known that the CAPS has a 10-year repack requirement—which includes replacement of the ballistic rocket—there’s also the mandatory replacement of the pyrotechnic line cutters. To see what’s involved, we flew an early-gen SR22 to U.S. Flight Aircraft Maintenance in Danbury, Connecticut—a busy and respected Cirrus service center.

Larry Anglisano

Editor in Chief Larry Anglisano has been a staple at Aviation Consumer since 1995. An active land, sea and glider pilot, Larry has over 30 years’ experience as an avionics repairman and flight test pilot. He’s the editorial director overseeing sister publications Aviation Safety magazine, IFR magazine and is a regular contributor to KITPLANES magazine with his Avionics Bootcamp column.