Marc Ramsey wrote:
wrote:
Please name one accident of a glider with auto hookups that could have
been prevented by a positive control check. I sure don't know any. A
seized bearing will be detected by simply moving the stick. In all
gliders I know there is no scenario of control failure that would
necessitate a positive control check for detection.

FWIW, I've owned 8 different gliders from 4 different manufacturers with
one or more automatic hookups, and every single one had at least one
failure mode where you could jam things together without properly
engaging the corresponding hookup. It was usually hard to get things
wrong, and the control stick would usually (but not always) bind when
something wasn't properly engaged, but it could be done, and I always do
PCCs as a result...

If, after assembly on an auto hookup glider,

* you moved the stick and flap handle to their extremes, saw all the
surfaces deflect appropriately (direction and range of motion), felt the
controls moving just as freely as they should, and then
* moved each aileron and flap surface by hand (applying pressure at the
point the control horn is attached), and saw and felt it move
appropriately, and saw the other surfaces move appropriately, and
* opened the spoilers, saw they moved the same amount on each wing,
then closed and locked them, and saw the caps being pulled flush with
the surface on both wings,

would you be confident the controls were properly connected and
functioning correctly?

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
* Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

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