Rope Break

Very unfortunate to read about accidents resulting in death or serious injury in any sport or endeavor.

Without making a mountain out of a mole hill, as one who has spent a lot of time chasing rope and hooking up gliders in the past year and a half I would like to remind everyone that it's a lot more than just sticking the ring in the nose or CG hook.

I have found at least two tow ropes with breaks half way thru in the past year and a half. On one occasion the tow pilot said he knew when and how it happened, on a slack rope recovery done incorrectly by a student. It only take a few minutes to grab a new rope, hook it up and be back in action. The alternative can bring an operation to a halt in a heart beat, no pun intended.

Each time we grab the rope for a hook up, it's important that we make as much of an effort as possible to insure that it's sound, no partial breaks, no knots and that the ring is solid and uncracked. I try to let the rope slide thru my fingers lightly. No real chance of a rope burn if the plane isn't taxiing inordinately fast. Look, feel and listen while retrieving the rope and you just might prevent an accident.

Walt

Pre-takeoff check

Canopy-
Air-brakes-

It doesn't make much sense to tie two expensive aircraft together with
a weak rope-

On Apr 12, 12:43*pm, Devin Bargainnier
wrote:
Pre-takeoff check

Canopy-
Air-brakes-

It doesn't make much sense to tie two expensive aircraft together with
a weak rope-

Add in a couple hard to replace folks.
UH

On Apr 12, 10:41*am, wrote:
On Apr 12, 12:43*pm, Devin Bargainnier
wrote:

Pre-takeoff check

Canopy-
Air-brakes-

It doesn't make much sense to tie two expensive aircraft together with
a weak rope-

Add in a couple hard to replace folks.
UH

We call it a 'rope break', but did the ROPE break? Or did one of the
weak links break, as it should, to keep us from reading about a glider
pilot AND a tow plane pilot being killed.

Originally Posted by Grider Pirate

On Apr 12, 10:41*am, wrote:
On Apr 12, 12:43*pm, Devin Bargainnier
wrote:

Pre-takeoff check

Canopy-
Air-brakes-

It doesn't make much sense to tie two expensive aircraft together with
a weak rope-

Add in a couple hard to replace folks.
UH

We call it a 'rope break', but did the ROPE break? Or did one of the
weak links break, as it should, to keep us from reading about a glider
pilot AND a tow plane pilot being killed.

Regarding the Blue Ridge accident, it appears that it might have been a failure to close the spoilers/air brakes that caused the problem, (as per Cookie). Check list my friends, check list.

Walt