At 02:06 05 October 2013, Bill T wrote:
Winch tow, hand on release? Not a good idea?
Jerk acceleration, from some slack or something in the line and you
inadvertently pull the release.
Probably not too bad if still on the ground.

The accident report is not final from the recent Jacuma CA winch
accident.
Preliminary information is a Premature release at to low an altitude and
to
high an attitude.

Aero tow, I was giving a flight review and the pilot tried to hold his
fist
right in front of the 2-33 release, it was a bumpy tow and his hand was
everywhere except near the release. We discussed the usefulness of that
concept.

BT

It is absolutely essential that hand contact with the release is maintained
from the time a cable is attached to the time until flight is achieved on a
winch launch. The wing drop/yaw/crash sequence is well documented and while
being able to operate the release quickly does nothing to prevent, only
mitigates the severity of the accident, it is nevertheless literally the
difference between life and death.
Inadvertently operating the release on a winch launch may prove
embarrassing, not operating the release if a wing drops may spare your
embarrassment by killing you.

http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources...NN%2006-13.pdf