On Jul 11, 2:38*pm, wrote:
On July 7, 2011 at Nowy Targ in southern Poland, glider Puchacz
crashed during training flight 2/3 mile from the airport. The
instructor (~64-67) and the student pilot (~18-19) are dead. *It was a
tow rope brake practice flight with down wind turn for down wind
landing from about 130-150 m of altitude (400 feet).
What can we learn from this?
Are these training flights mendatory under FAA rules?
Can pilot request opt-out from "rope brake" during Biennial Flight
Review to avoid getting killed?
I remember once during BFR the instructor pulled the release on me in
the Blanik at about 200 feet, I had to do 180 turn and land down wind
from very low altitude. I think it was dangerous and unnecessary even
for an experienced pilot as me. Andre

http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/regionalne...Szybowiec_rozb...

Not enough is known about this tragic event. Our condolences to the
families.
But to answer the question, a rope break event is in the US Practical
Test Standards and references the Glider Pilots Handbook which
identifies 200ft AGL as a minimum altitude for the event, WEATHER
PERMITING.

It is one of the last events I teach before solo, knowing the pilot is
well briefed for the first event and is well versed and has no
problems maintaining coordinated flight and airspeed during turns.

T