Hypothetical Scenario #1 - Urgent Action required

At 22:07 09 February 2014, Bill T wrote:
Stuck open airbrakes? Why yes we have!
On the Grob, a good strong arm can hold against the student trying to
close=
the spoiler. Once he realizes he can't close the spoilers and declares
the=
problem and turns toward the airport, the emergency is resolved. Spoiler
c=
ontrol is given back to effect a safe final touch down.
BillT

a good strong arm and mechanical advantage

On Thursday, February 6, 2014 10:01:32 AM UTC-6, wrote:
I've been thinking this would be a fun scenario to practice on a BFR, to give the student (who will surely appreciate it) practice at handling an emergency that really isn't an emergency.



When the student checks airbrakes on his/her downwind checklist (what downwind checklist? Ah, on the second flight then!), I grab the airbrakes and say "the airbrakes just stuck open." And shut up. Now the student's job is to quickly plan a full airbrake plus slip pattern. It's not a real emergency, because we can always close the airbrakes.



Has anyone tried this? UH, font of all wisdom on such things?



John Cochrane

We do this exercise at Sky soaring every year with pilots - some have to close the spoilers to make it back. Debrief is interesting.
Zen

On Wednesday, February 5, 2014 11:19:04 PM UTC-5, OneTango wrote:
This is a voluntary pop quiz.



You're circling in a 30 degree left bank at 3000 AGL.



You hear a thunk and the glider enters a spin. Your practiced spin recovery technique does not work in the usual amount of time. You look in the direction of the thunk and see that the left spoiler is full open, you confirm that the spoiler control handle is in the fully closed position. A quick look confirms that the right spoiler is full closed.



What do you do next? Why did the left spoiler pop open. What just happened?



To derive the full benefit of this exercise, you might respond to this thread with your answer before looking at any of the other replies.



My hypothetical solution and explanation follows as the next comment.

Probably late to the game, but I'd open the other spoiler to match and then plan to land.. unless of course I discover the left aileron is also not working...