Don Johnstone[_4_]
July 15th 14, 03:03 PM
There have been a significant number of accidents involving the glider
spinning into the ground. Many of these accidents have occurred with
experienced pilots/instructors on board. Unfortunately the only people who
could positively tell you what went wrong cannot. I almost all cases, where
the spin in has been fatal the assumption has been made that the pilot(s)
screwed up.
Given the common knowledge of the nature of spinning a Puch I find it
difficult to believe that. There is another explanation that there are
certain conditions of loading/other factors that make recovery from a spin
in a Puchacz impossible, no-one wants to accept that for obvious reasons.
The truth is we do not know but continue to make potentially dangerous
assumptions.
My solution personally is:
a. I do not fly a Puchacz if I can help it.
b. If I do I do not attempt to spin it and discourage others from doing
so.
c. If I am ever in a Puchacz that is spinning if recovery to controlled
flight has not been achieved by 2000ft agl I will leave.
d. If a spin is entered below 2000ft agl I will leave immediately, that
discourages others from deliberate spinning with me on board, especially if
I am in the front seat.
Please note that I am not saying that a Puchacz is dangerous per se, or
that the glider is impossible to recover from a spin under certain
circumstances, just that I am not going to hang about to find out. Has
worked for me, so far.
spinning into the ground. Many of these accidents have occurred with
experienced pilots/instructors on board. Unfortunately the only people who
could positively tell you what went wrong cannot. I almost all cases, where
the spin in has been fatal the assumption has been made that the pilot(s)
screwed up.
Given the common knowledge of the nature of spinning a Puch I find it
difficult to believe that. There is another explanation that there are
certain conditions of loading/other factors that make recovery from a spin
in a Puchacz impossible, no-one wants to accept that for obvious reasons.
The truth is we do not know but continue to make potentially dangerous
assumptions.
My solution personally is:
a. I do not fly a Puchacz if I can help it.
b. If I do I do not attempt to spin it and discourage others from doing
so.
c. If I am ever in a Puchacz that is spinning if recovery to controlled
flight has not been achieved by 2000ft agl I will leave.
d. If a spin is entered below 2000ft agl I will leave immediately, that
discourages others from deliberate spinning with me on board, especially if
I am in the front seat.
Please note that I am not saying that a Puchacz is dangerous per se, or
that the glider is impossible to recover from a spin under certain
circumstances, just that I am not going to hang about to find out. Has
worked for me, so far.