Do your straps up tightly for winch launches!

The UK Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has
recently published a report on a fatal accident involving
a DG600 sailplane back in 2005.

The circumstances were that the DG600 took a winch
launch, and rotated into an unusually steep climb after
lift off. This was enough to slow down a slightly underpowered
winch to the extent that the glider stalled and flicked
into a spin. The pilot was killed in the ensuing crash.

The experienced pilot was the owner of the DG600 and
maintained it himself as a BGA inspector. It was assessed
from the wreckage that the glider was correctly rigged
and that all the controls were properly connected.
The only anomaly found was that the ASI static was
connected to the Total Energy probe, which might have
caused the ASI to misread. However tests showed that
this would only cause minor errors.

The shoulder straps were found to be somewhat loose
although, as the glider crashed inverted, this may
have been as a result of the crash. It was concluded
that the most likely cause of this accident was that
the pilot had not sufficiently tightened his shoulder
straps and had slid backwards up the seat, which caused
him to inadvertently pull back on the stick in the
process.

I should point out that I had a somewhat similar experience
when I took my first winch launch in a DG101 sailplane,
and was only just about able to retain control with
my fingertips at full stretch. My feet where well off
the rudder pedals! DG single seaters have a very reclined
seat position and the shoulder straps seem to be mounted
a bit too far up.

Can I recommend most strongly that you do your straps
up really tightly and set the rudder pedals at least
a couple of notches nearer for a winch launch, especially
if the sailplane has a well reclined seat. Also only
use very firm seat cushions if these are required.

Derek Copeland