Nick makes an excellent point. Using substandard rope and weak links
invites disaster.

On the topic of spoilers open on the takeoff roll, isn't the problem
having them in the wrong configuration for a particular glider?

How about a simple mechanical spoiler locked indicator? Run a Bowden
cable from the spoiler pushrod in the fuselage to a red button on top
of the glare shield directly in the pilots line of sight. With the
spoilers closed and locked, the button would be flush with the glare
shield. Unlocked, it would protrude. As the spoilers open it would
protrude further providing a % open indication.

Yes, if pilots would just turn their head, the spoilers themselves
make a great 'indicator' but it's clear from the accident record they
don't do that.


On Apr 14, 9:59*pm, Nick Kennedy wrote:
A long time ago I visited a soaring site in Israel. *The signal the
glider pilots used to signal readiness to the tow pilot was not waving
the rudder like in the USA, but opening and closing the
spoilers/breaks twice.
I was told one of the reasons for this was to make sure they were
closed on TO.
--
Roberto Waltman

This above post by Mr Waltman makes alot of sense to me and I would like
to see this procedure *looked at closely. I am also a big fan of launching
with the spoilers open and have been doing it now for several years with
good results. Another thing I have trained myself to do is; When the
towplane / glider unit gets airborne and is in a steady state of climb, I
glance out to the left wing and look at the spoilers. *It is easy to do
and your focus distance does not change much.

Another big issue for me is what really caused this accident, it sounds
like the rope or weak link broke. *I don't think the rope should come
apart on a guy just because he has his spoilers out and the tow is slowly
progressing.

I've taken off in Parowan in my ASW-20 full of water with the spoilers
unlocked. *I didn't think much of it untill the tow pilot called and
remarked about all the sink we were flying through!
We all make mistakes.
*If the tug cannot climb and has to turn the glider loose, so be it. *if
the tow starts going squirrily and the tow pilot is getting scared, turn
the glider loose. *But it should be a decision made by the pilots, not a
P.O.S. rope break. Further more I think we need to all be using High
Quality ropes and weak links, and give up on that polypro.
The poly pro comes unthreaded,untied, it is EASILY damaged, it looks like
hell after only a few tows.
*Look on the Wings and Wheels web page and look at the rope TOST puts out
and the Dacron Rope. *Here in Telluride we ONLY use Dacron ropes because
they are reliable. If you have a rope break here, early on the tow, it is
really bad news. *Heck it's bad news anywhere to have a rope break low.
It can be FATAL . lets get rid of those poly ropes. And in the long run
the Hi Quality ropes ARE cheaper, and when they are used up, you can use
them for other things, not just throw them away. How green is that?
Nick Kennedy
Grob Twin Astir TF
LS-6 *XS