Minooka Accident?

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

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/

Another early news report: http://patch.com/illinois/channahon-...ark-man-s-life

On Sunday, August 7, 2016 at 10:45:03 AM UTC-5, 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

Witnesses said that they saw one of wings of the glider "dip" shortly after it was released from the tow plane. The glider then stalled and "nose dived" into the field.
No other details of the accident. The initial accident report from the FAA indicates that the aircraft was a PLZ Bielsko SZD55 glider of "pending" registration. It is classified as an "Experimental" aircraft in the "Racing" category.

Witnesses said that they saw one of wings of the glider "dip" shortly after it was released from the tow plane. The glider then stalled and "nose dived" into the field.
No other details of the accident. The initial accident report from the FAA indicates that the aircraft was a PLZ Bielsko SZD55 glider of "pending" registration. It is classified as an "Experimental" aircraft in the "Racing" category.

The preliminary report is now available on ntsb page. Has a little clearer description of events. Horrible and unneeded loss.

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

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.

There is a history of collapsing of the back rest in SZD-55.
Mine was equipped by the previous owner with a custom made wood inserts, supposedly preventing of such events. Collapsing of the back rest would certainly cause pilot to fall back and sudden back pull on the stick.
Following stall would be consistent with this scenario.

On Monday, August 15, 2016 at 4:16:20 PM UTC-4, Bruce Hoult wrote:
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...090314_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.

The term "chin hook" seems to well describe the low forward hooks some gliders have to try to comply with the expectation of a nose hook. Being further forward will likely help with yaw to some degree, but most are not all that much higher than the CG hook and thus will only have limited benefit in terms of pitching moment when the big yank comes.
True nose hooks accomplish both.
Another example of not pulling the release early when stuff starts to go wrong. My comment assumes pilot could get to the release.
Sad
UH

I believe that ship sold on W&W just a few months ago, as I called about it.