On Monday, January 13, 2014 8:00:40 AM UTC-8, wrote:

I have about 1,000 hours in my ASW 27. Unintentional spin entries = 0. Unintentional stalls = 0. I keep my CG at 85% back. Even wild horsing around on the controls during normal contest thermaling -- especially at Ephrata where you're thermaling fast and tight -- doesn't produce a spin entry. Was there something mis rigged with this glider, or CG out of whack? We may never know, but many unintentional spin entries is very, very unusual in properly rigged and CG ASW gliders.

I have no personal experience in the matter, but I can imagine that an extra three meters of span (among other modifications) might make a substantial difference in the spin characteristics. But, yeah, both the spin and spiral dive that followed seem uncharacteristic.

What's the business about main pins? What did main pins even remotely have to do with this accident? The complaint references something about main pins rusting and being replaced. WTF? OK, I've seen some surface rust on some main pins, but nothing that remotely comes close to a structural issue. Is there an allegation the pins came out on their own?

The NTSB synopsis makes it pretty clear that the pins were not an issue at all, and the plaintiff's assertion that they were defective was just another piece of slimy legalistic maneuvering.

Thanks, Bob K.