And yet another good example! You guys have opened my eyes some on
not-so-obvious malfunctions. My harsh comments were for those who don't pay
attention. I can think of two glaring examples: One in which an open
canopy resulted in a low release, failed turn back, broken glider, and two
injured people, one of whom was a paying passenger. The pilot was a CFIG!
The other, also an open canopy, resulted in the pilot towing to a safe
release altitude while holding the canopy down, then unable to deploy the
spoilers (didn't have 3 hands), and being unable figure out how to slip or
extend the pattern, flew the length of the 8,000+ foot runway and crashed
beyond the end. The pilot survived with, IIRC, minor injuries, but the
glider was damaged.

Since the second mentioned accident, the club has emphasized training on
slips to landing. Frankly, I would have slipped in the direction of the
canopy hinge (I think it was side-opening), momentarily released my hold on
the stick, locked the canopy, and continued the flight.


"BruceGreeff" wrote in message
...
Things go wrong - sometimes in ways that look like you are incompetent.

I had my airbrake over centre adjusted wrong at an annual inspection.
First tow there was much excitement and rudder waggling. Every time I
locked the lever back, every time they popped open 20 seconds later.
Eventually just wedged them and flew, the aerotow was slower to climb
because I could not hold the brakes entire ly closed with my thigh - but
at least I was not having 20foot excursions the whole time.

Lots of comments when I landed.

Geometry checked and overcentre load adjusted correctly. Suddenly pilot
competence increased substantially...

So - yes we try to make things safe because things can go wrong. There is
a fine line before sanitising to the point of pilots becoming dangerous.

Unfortunately some folk just can't ever get safe. In our club operation
they then have the choice of continuing with a safety pilot, or going back
to being a spectator. Fortunately there are very few who fail to recognise
their own limitations. It is one of the reasons folk drift away.

Hard call to make, but it is better to have someone alive and resentful of
your decision than dead.

On 2011/09/10 9:47 PM, Eric Greenwell wrote:
On 9/10/2011 12:19 PM, Dan Marotta wrote:
Why must we continue to try to make everything safe for everyone? Some
people should just NOT be flying aircraft. Or riding motorcycles, or
driving cars. I think we'd all be better served if these folks were told
to stop flying. But then we'd have to ask: "Who certified them as safe
and competent in the first place?"

Sorry if I sound harsh, but there are too many incompetent people in the
world, the result of putting their self esteem above their safety. If
they can't do it, why not just tell them so?

Sometimes we do, but it's not an easy task determining who is
incompetent, or if currently incompetent, will become competent. In a
recent post, you wrote:

If your spoilers "suck open" and you don't recognize it, you shouldn't
be flying.

Perhaps you missed my earlier response to that statement, but the basic
idea was: I know many competent pilots, including myself, that have had
this happen to them.

As many have pointed out, accidents are happening to pilots that appear
competent and are certainly experienced. It's not just the obvious bozo
that's having accidents.


--
Bruce Greeff
T59D #1771 & Std Cirrus #57