Sad News

[JohnD]

I sadly report that Hans Langer, the leader of the Southern California
Safari Group, died yesterday in a glider accident in Lone Pine. God
rest his soul.

ALWAYS remember to prepare properly (positive control checks EVERY
flight), always know your emergency procedures, and fly safely.

[JohnD]

The glider was observed to have one spoiler deploy during take off
roll. He reported via radio when still under tow he was having spoiler
problems.

What happened between release and impact is not clear. The glider
impacted the top wire between high tension towers with it's left wing
and came to rest near the power line road directly below the power
lines. The tow pilot circled the crash site for some time allowing
emergency personnel to arrive as quickly as possible.

(JohnD) wrote in message >...
> I sadly report that Hans Langer, the leader of the Southern California
> Safari Group, died yesterday in a glider accident in Lone Pine. God
> rest his soul.
>
> ALWAYS remember to prepare properly (positive control checks EVERY
> flight), always know your emergency procedures, and fly safely.

[Lord Struthers]

Really Sad, that Guyed wire is almost invisible compared to the transmission
lines.
Rich

[JJ Sinclair]

>
>The glider was observed to have one spoiler deploy during take off
>roll. He reported via radio when still under tow he was having spoiler
>problems.

I remember a DG-400 with one spoiler deployed at Truckee. The pilot deployed
the other spoiler (the one that was still attached to the spoiler handle) and
then tried to make a normal landing on 19. He hit the cliff because both
spoilers were out. The lesson we can take from this latest sad news is; If one
spoiler deploys on tow, stay on tow until you have plenty of altitude and then
release and deploy the other spoiler. Then plunk it in the middle of the
longest runway available.

Very sorry to hear about another accident.
JJ Sinclair

[Lord Struthers]

One of the partners experienced split spoilers in the ASW17 on short final,with
a cross wind. It was an expensive year. If it doesn't work as advertised, I
abort. I almost hooked the top wire of a T pole, spraying in a Bell47D1, and I
wasn't pre occupied, just unaware.
Rich

[Janos Bauer]

My condolences...:(
Just another spoiler accident:
Last month (08.08) an IS29D2 preparing for xc took off with deployed
spoilers. The tow pilot noticed it and tried to inform the pilot (there
was no radio). The pilot didn't closed the spoilers and at the end the
glider was released right over the airport. The pilot realized the
higher than expected sink rate and tried to glide to the nearest thermal
where other gliders were circling. At half distance he realized that he
couldn't make it. Still not aware about the opened spoilers!! Turned
back to the airport and because of the reduced l/d hit some buildings
and finally landed on a road. There was no traffic on this road at that
time...

/Janos

[Robertmudd1u]

In article >,
(JohnD) writes:

>The glider was observed to have one spoiler deploy during take off
>roll. He reported via radio when still under tow he was having spoiler
>problems.
>

Please tell us what kind of glider he was flying.

Robert Mudd

[JJ Sinclair]

For the past 20 years, I have made it a practice to take a look at the spoilers
at about 500 feet on takeoff. It's easy, doesn't take a second. I am also
reassured to see that the wings are still on. How are you Disci drivers doing?
Are they still grounded?
JJ Sinclair

[Janos Bauer]

Yes, we have those signs: show your palm on the left side of the
towplane by facing your palm to the wind (if the cockpit is closed than
we use the same method what you described). This is what was used in
this case but there was no response from the glider pilot.:(

/Janos


John Giddy wrote:

>
> Don't you guys have a simple visual signalling system
> between the tug and the glider ?
> In a situation like that, our tuggies waggle the rudder
> enough to make the tug yaw back and forth. Signal means:
> "Too much drag. Fix it !"
> Waggle wings means "Get off NOW. Tug in trouble"
> Cheers, John G. (Australia)

[Chris OCallaghan]

I do the same, only immediately after takeoff, before I have to make
an off field landing decision if I have a tow emergency. Don't even
need to check both wings. Just a quick look to left or right. Also
helps to touch the spoiler handle with a finger or two at the same
time.

There was a previous thread. A search on spoilers, take-off, rope
break should pull it up.

(JJ Sinclair) wrote in message >...
> For the past 20 years, I have made it a practice to take a look at the spoilers
> at about 500 feet on takeoff. It's easy, doesn't take a second. I am also
> reassured to see that the wings are still on. How are you Disci drivers doing?
> Are they still grounded?
> JJ Sinclair

[K.P. Termaat]

I have noticed several occurrences with either the spoilers, the gear or a
combination of those. Came up with a nice solution for our new Ventus 2cxT.
Have a look at http://home.wxs.nl/~kpt9/gear.htm

Karel Termaat
NL

"Janos Bauer" > schreef in bericht
...
>
>
> My condolences...:(
> Just another spoiler accident:
> Last month (08.08) an IS29D2 preparing for xc took off with deployed
> spoilers. The tow pilot noticed it and tried to inform the pilot (there
> was no radio). The pilot didn't closed the spoilers and at the end the
> glider was released right over the airport. The pilot realized the
> higher than expected sink rate and tried to glide to the nearest thermal
> where other gliders were circling. At half distance he realized that he
> couldn't make it. Still not aware about the opened spoilers!! Turned
> back to the airport and because of the reduced l/d hit some buildings
> and finally landed on a road. There was no traffic on this road at that
> time...
>
> /Janos

[RamyYanetz]

From the NTSB report:

"On September 19, 2003, at 1503 Pacific daylight time, a Schempp-Hirth Standard
Cirrus glider, N71DA, collided with an electric transmission guy wire about 1.6
miles east of the Lone Pine Airport, Lone Pine, California. The glider was
owned by the pilot and operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The
private pilot received fatal injuries, and the glider was substantially
damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had
been filed. The local area personal flight originated about 1440 from Lone Pine
Airport via a tow plane.

The tow plane pilot reported that he observed a spoiler or spoilers during the
initial tow. The tow pilot alerted the pilot by radio by stating "spoilers
spoilers" glider on tow, with no response. The tow pilot gave the glider pilot
a rudder wag as an additional signal that the spoilers were deployed rather
than being stowed. Subsequently, the glider pilot stated on radio that he had a
spoiler problem.

The glider pilot released from the tow about 3,400 feet above ground level, and
3.5 miles east of the airport. The tow pilot stated on the radio that he would
take the dirt runway, allowing the glider to land on the paved surface.

Post accident examination of the glider revealed that the spoilers had not been
connected prior to flight."

No mention if a PCC was done, and if so, why the disconnect wasn't noticed.
Also it is not clear how the glider lost over 3000 feet traveling only 2 miles
(3:1 glide ratio) even with spoilers fully deployed. Hopefully someone can
tell us more so we can all learn.

Ramy

>The description I have heard is slightly different.
>During takeoff in a standard Cirrus, one spoiler deployed then
>shortly the other. (No report on weather either spoiler was
>found connected during post crash insp). During the tow the tow
>pilot was wagging his rudder and attempting to contact the glider
>by radio with no response (although the glider and tow plane had
>communicated prior to takeoff). When the tow plane initiated a
>turn back toward the airport, the glider pilot released (altitude
>at that time unreported). After the glider released he was heard
>on the radio stating that he had a spoiler problem. As reported
>the gliders wing tip struck a smaller lightning cable at the top
>of high tension poles and impacted below.
>
>It would be reasonable to assume that any of the following could
>have provided the the opportunity to break the chain of events
>that led to this accident.
>
>1 the spoilers were not connected properly during assembly
>2 if a positive control check was done, spoilers were missed
>3 during pre takeoff check, apparently spoilers were not visually
> checked for full deployment travel and locking
>4 the glider released during tow prior to being brought back over
> the runway with plenty of altitude for dealing with the problem.
>
>Our condolances go out to the family. And we mean no disrespect
>by attempting to understand and hopefully prevent similar accidents
>in the future.
>
>Soarin
>
>
>