Andy wrote:

Can you, or anyone else, point to any accident that was caused by
incorrectly assembled Hoteliers when a safety device, such as a pin,
was installed in all fittings. I know of none.

The ASW-20 is the only one of these I've rigged and flown. The hatch
giving access to the wing Hoteliers (aileron, brake, flap connections)
is too small to put two hands through, so you have to connect the wing
controls one handed and mostly by touch. Mine had Weedekind locking
sleeves fitted to the Hoteliers. I wouldn't touch an ASW-20 without them
because they make checking the connections by touch so much easier.

I used to carry spare pins and give them to other pilots had had not
previously used them.

I can't imagine putting pins into the wing Hoteliers on an ASW-20 rather
than using Weedekind sleeves, but ymmv.

OTOH I had no problem with the pin on the elevator Hotelier because its
out in the open where you can see what you're doing from both sides and
the rear.

If you're rigging a glider with Hoteliers you MUST NOT allow anybody to
distract you while you connect them up. Then you or somebody you trust
MUST go round and check them again before you do positives. IMHO
positives are mandatory every time the glider is rigged and should be
repeated before flying it every day even if its been left rigged overnight.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |