On Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at 2:46:34 AM UTC+12, wrote:
On Sunday, August 7, 2016 at 11:15:12 AM UTC-6, Renny wrote:
On Sunday, August 7, 2016 at 9:45:03 AM UTC-6, wrote:
Anyone in Chicago area know of a glider incident Saturday? We received a sketchy third hand notification and have mostly non pilot friends there.. Thank for any steerage or link. Karen

Sad news...

http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/0...field/a9fcd8u/

The NTSB preliminary report has now been posted...

http://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.av...o=3&pgsize=200

Bloody 'ell!

I was confused by the term "chin tow cable release". Looking at photos, it seems the '55 has the aerotow hook approximately under the instrument panel..

http://www.wildbergair.com/photos/ai...90314_051..JPG

According to manufacturer's information, they can come with a hook "on the nose section" (NOT "on the nose"), on the undercarriage fork, or both. Winching is to be carried out only on the hook on the undercarriage, aerotow can be done on the winching hook if that is the only one fitted.

That raises some questions:

- did the NTSB inspector check for a tow hook on the undercarriage? Was there one? Was it in use on this launch? Have to assume no to all three questions, as they didn't mention one and they're not idiots.

- is the aerotow hook far enough back to cause a noticeable pitch up if a slack tow rope comes tight suddenly?

- the report says the glider was pointing left with the left wing down on the second wing drop. Did it slalom enough to get slack rope on recovery?

It's hard to imagine why you'd get a 30 - 40 degree pitch up unless the glider decided to winch launch behind the towplane. Short of an incapacitated pilot anyway.