Glider Towplane Mid-air – TP PowerFLARM Inop

TSB Canada Report

https://bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-r.../a19w0099.html

What a tragic waste of lives.Â* The report mentioned that both occupants
of the glider were wearing parachutes, but there's no mention of any
attempt to bail out.Â* Is that an oversight in the report or did they
simply not try to get out?

On 2/10/2020 12:32 PM, George Haeh wrote:
TSB Canada Report

https://bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-r.../a19w0099.html

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Dan, 5J

My guess is that they didn't have enough time to get out with the forces involved after the tail came off. The report does not mention whether the canopies were released.

In 2003 I lost my fin and tailplane in a midair. I was able to get out very easily. I and the pilot of the other glider involved were very lucky. We both used our parachutes and were completely uninjured. I would not speculate on why the pilots of this K21 were unable to get out and am surprised that the report did not address that aspect. Would any of you ground a tug because the Flarm was giving problems?

On Monday, February 10, 2020 at 5:19:52 PM UTC-7, waremark wrote:
In 2003 I lost my fin and tailplane in a midair. I was able to get out very easily. I and the pilot of the other glider involved were very lucky. We both used our parachutes and were completely uninjured. I would not speculate on why the pilots of this K21 were unable to get out and am surprised that the report did not address that aspect. Would any of you ground a tug because the Flarm was giving problems?

It sounds like they were about 2000" AGL. I would think that would give enough time to egress, assuming the G-forces were not pinning you in the seat, but it wouldn't be a lot of time. You would have to get out fast.

Without a tail would the g forces not be 0 or even negative?. I would
expect the first result to be a bunt to inverted. Just wondering

I think the reverse question is more intersting. How many people would have a PowerFLARM in a towplane and tolerating it repeatedly having problems before getting it fixed.

I expect it would be good to see more PowerFLARM adoption in towplanes in the USA.

The ABQ soaring club Pawnee has either a Flarm or a transponder.Â* In any
case, I see it electronically all the time.

On 2/12/2020 11:03 AM, Darryl Ramm wrote:
I think the reverse question is more intersting. How many people would have a PowerFLARM in a towplane and tolerating it repeatedly having problems before getting it fixed.

I expect it would be good to see more PowerFLARM adoption in towplanes in the USA.

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Dan, 5J

Once the initial negative G of the pitch over passed, the vertical
descent is essentially a zero G situation.Â* It should be really easy to
get unstrapped and out.Â* Perhaps it was simply denial of what was
happening.Â* Given an altitude at or above 2,000' initially, it would
take over 5 seconds to reach the ground, probably 6 to 8 seconds.

On 2/10/2020 2:14 PM, George Haeh wrote:
My guess is that they didn't have enough time to get out with the forces involved after the tail came off. The report does not mention whether the canopies were released.

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Dan, 5J