Winch Launch Fatality

On Jun 23, 9:14*am, Martin Gregorie
wrote:
On Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:24:24 -0700, bildan wrote:
On Jun 23, 4:34*am, John Smith wrote:
ucsdcpc wrote:
The routine we are taught is as follows, all part of the pre-flight
eventualities check before each launch:

1. * *decide on appropriate approach speed for conditions

2. * *in the event of a launch failure (not just cable brake) lower
the nose to an appropriate attitude

Wrong, very wrong, very dangerous. The correct sequence is:

1. Push the stick forward and pull the release knob.

2. If possible, land ahead on the remaining runway.

3. If you're too high to land ahead, you have all the time to decide
your further actions. This can be an abbreviated circuit or a downwind
landing, depending on the circumstances.

And yes, doing a 180 too hasty will put you in a situation where you
don't have enough runway to land. So whatever you do, don't panic.
Everything else depends.

Please explain why pulling the release is priority one.

Apart from anything else, your hand should be on the release knob during
the launch, so pulling it a couple of times immediately after pushing
over and just before letting go of it is an obvious move. That is taught
as SOP in my club.

*Most likely the
remaining rope and parachute gear has already back released.

.... only if the cable break was down near the winch. If the break was
near the glider you could still have several meters of cable and the
furled drogue dangling trailing from the hook. Its even more likely that
you'll still have the cable attached if the problem is a power fade at
the winch rather than a cable break.

Diverting attention to the release knob when other critical decisions
are pending seems odd when you think about it.

It should be in your hand already, so no attention diversion is needed.

Note to Schweizer operators: *Schweizer CG hooks require MUCH more force
to back release than the Tost release so you folks should pull.

There's the other answer: never train somebody to use a technique that is
unsafe on some types of glider. Murphy pretty much mandates they'll
forget to check the cable is gone when they're flying a type where it
matters.

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

I don't think you made your case. I have seen LOTS of wire/rope
breaks, including weak link breaks, and nothing has ever stayed on the
hook - even with Schweizers. But, even if pulling the release is
justified on the assumption that something MIGHT be on the hook AND
assuming that something on the hook would cause damage (It won't kill
you), why a priority?

The reason I brought this up is that I have seen many pilots nearly
bungle a recovery while pulling the release. Even with a hand on the
release, there's no guarantee a pilot will pull it - I've seen pilots
take their hand off the release and pull the spoilers. A launch
failure is no time to be multi-tasking. Screw the release - FLY THE
GLIDER!

I want to see this priority list in order of decreasing urgency:

1. Nose way down NOW!
2. Get a safe airspeed ASAP!
3. Decide on the landing option (Straight or circle.)
4. Execute landing option - concentrate on airspeed and coordination.
5. Pull the release - maybe.

I'm not saying don't pull the release - just don't let it get in the
way of more urgent actions.