Fatal Towplane Accident 5-9-20

On Tue, 12 May 2020 17:41:24 -0700, agcatflyr wrote:

We simulate rope breaks, have you ever covered an airspeed
and had to fly a tow-release-landing without?

Aero tow, no. Winch, yes: three times. First was pre-solo in an ASK-21
and an ASI cover was used, so the whole launch was flown without an ASI
for the student. Part of the BGA syllabus. Isn't that part of US solo
qualification and if not, why not?

The other two were ASI failures after launch. Both of these were in a
Puchacz. First was shortly after release. By then we'd just found a nice
thermal so we decided it would be rude it not use it, went away over big
open space, did a stall or two as reminder of noises etc, came back and
landed without incident. Second was halfway up the launch: pulled the
bung, flew abbreviated pattern and landed. No huhu.


--
Martin | martin at
Gregorie | gregorie dot org

Your strapped in, closed up, checklist complete, hooked up.............then something stops the launch! It’s hot inside your closed up cockpit and it looks like a several minute delay, so you open up the canopy. How can you insure you latch the canopy again?
Here’s a little trick I’ve used for 48 years....................leave your hand on the canopy latch! May be a little uncomfortable, but your hand on the canopy latch is there to remind you that something must be done, before you are once again READY FOR TAKEOFF.
Just my .02 cents,
JJ

John I like that little trick
Dan

On Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 5:43:15 PM UTC-7, wrote:
Your strapped in, closed up, checklist complete, hooked up.............then something stops the launch! It’s hot inside your closed up cockpit and it looks like a several minute delay, so you open up the canopy. How can you insure you latch the canopy again?
Here’s a little trick I’ve used for 48 years....................leave your hand on the canopy latch! May be a little uncomfortable, but your hand on the canopy latch is there to remind you that something must be done, before you are once again READY FOR TAKEOFF.
Just my .02 cents,
JJ

What part of my solution didn't you guys understand? There's a fairly simply technological solution that circumvents human failings, and that is an automatically actuated tow release. Professional airline pilots which have two pilots in the cockpit with electronic checklists still screw up. If that's the solution I guarantee that towplane upsets will continue to happen.

The tow pilot is in a very vulnerable situation: he/she is totally dependent upon the correct performance of the glider pilot. One towplane upset accident is one too many.

Tom

On Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 7:43:15 PM UTC-5, wrote:
Your strapped in, closed up, checklist complete, hooked up.............then something stops the launch! It’s hot inside your closed up cockpit and it looks like a several minute delay, so you open up the canopy. How can you insure you latch the canopy again?
Here’s a little trick I’ve used for 48 years....................leave your hand on the canopy latch! May be a little uncomfortable, but your hand on the canopy latch is there to remind you that something must be done, before you are once again READY FOR TAKEOFF.
Just my .02 cents,
JJ

Jeeeesh.. that suggestion wasn't worth the full 0.2cents; here's a penny rebate back. Take your low-tech ideas somewhere else, like the flat-earth society who'll appreciate numskull ideas. You take us for a bunch of idiots?
...... Okay, well, actually that sounds like a simple, workable solution. We use it on the flap handle when thermalling; a reminder to go neutral or negative when leaving the lift. Any simple ideas to keep us from stall/spinning in?

Things we don't teach to beginning glider pilots:

1. Don't kill the towpilot – Release immediately if you lose sight of the towplane or have any control problems.


Careful, that 'don't kill the tow pilot' lesson can put tow pilots at risk.


In my primary training, release if you loose site was taught, but the reasoning was about collision and not tying a bow around something.

Kiting is not obvious until you know about it.
Training needs to talk through that reasoning behind the rule.

This includes both the possibility of overwhelming the tow's elevator authority and for CG pilots, the glider's.

Dashcam video of this tragic accident
This is out on the internet now

https://photos.app.goo.gl/X9E3c7JDwnyMBMLw6

Nick
T

On Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 11:35:23 AM UTC-4, Nick Kennedy wrote:
Dashcam video of this tragic accident
This is out on the internet now

https://photos.app.goo.gl/X9E3c7JDwnyMBMLw6

Nick
T

Unbelievable....!

Uli
'AS'

On Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 3:39:28 PM UTC-7, AS wrote:
On Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 11:35:23 AM UTC-4, Nick Kennedy wrote:
Dashcam video of this tragic accident
This is out on the internet now

https://photos.app.goo.gl/X9E3c7JDwnyMBMLw6

Nick
T

Unbelievable....!

Uli
'AS'

Seriously sad.

On Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 10:35:23 AM UTC-5, Nick Kennedy wrote:
Dashcam video of this tragic accident
This is out on the internet now

https://photos.app.goo.gl/X9E3c7JDwnyMBMLw6

Nick
T

Amazing that there is footage.

Not sure what it shows. I think let the NTSB sort it out.