On Jan 23, 9:57*pm, Frank Whiteley wrote:
Stan Hall was not a fan of winch launching on a nosehook and from what
i've read made it pretty clear that he did not design the cherokee for
ground launch loads. *Didn't stop some people though and I know of at
least one winch launch rip the wings off fatal in a Cherokee II.
Although odds are there was something not quite right with the wings
too. *There is a Cherokee in Australia that is regularly winch
launched although that is with a tost hook on the CG and firmly
attached to the fuselage bulkhead that includes wing attach at the top
and main wheel at the bottom, in other words, very tough. *I'll stick
with aerotow.

Hi Tony,

http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/br...13X27021&key=1
Not a Cherokee, this glider had fluttered previously on an aero tow
launch in Boulder and was refused further launches. *Evidence of water
damage in structure. *Doubled weak link unknown to winch crew.

http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/br...14X42732&key=1

http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/br...15X13631&key=1
Probably responsible for Charis no longer insuring steel wire rope.

http://www.asias.faa.gov/portal/pls/...RIEF_REPORT_PU...
I thought this was an L-13. *I believe the glider impacted several
parked power aircraft.

http://www.asias.faa.gov/portal/pls/...RIEF_REPORT_PU...
Yoke problem

Still, I find no Cherokee II winch launch incidents. *Details please.

I have a FACEBOOK proposition for you.

I, too, have heard stories of a Cherokee suffering a structural
failure during either a winch or auto tow, specifically at Air
Sailing, which lead to them banning ground launches there. The
closest thing I've been able to find is this:

http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/br...id=85473&key=0

Given that the winch we've been building is getting close to test
phase, I expect I'll be hearing a lot more about these accidents
soon...

Marc