A Rough Day Towing

Yes, we checked the Pawnee and it's OK.

The glider's owner (not the pilot involved) told me that this release won't
let go unless it's under tension. I'm not familiar with the design and
wonder if that's a design defect or a defect in this particular piece of
hardware.

(Did 12 tows this morning and 2.3 hours in the LAK this afternoon!)


"BobW" wrote in message
...
On 6/1/2012 8:28 AM, Dan Marotta wrote:

Snip...

Later that day, an experienced pilot was flying his first flight in an
HP-14.
At 2,400' AGL we were indicating 1,100 fpm climb and said, "This is a
nice
thermal" on the radio. Seconds later the tow plane was jerked to the left
and
I looked over my right shoulder to see the glider at my 4 o'clock with a
large
loop of slack in the rope. I yelled, "Get off, get off, get off!!!" and,
to my
surprise, the response was the glider banking sharply into me and diving
past
my tail. Before I could grab the tow release, there was another sharp
jerk and
the rope broke. The glider pilot then enjoyed about 4 hours in the -14.

Snip...

Mercy!

Tell me again what that in-glider release is for?

My only self-induced rope break came on a BFR, demonstrating
instructor-induced slack rope recoveries. (Due to lack of practice at
slack rope after obtaining my license, I undoubtedly only got worse at
it.) So I understand the desire to recover an out of position towing
situation...just not at risk of life and limb.

On another BFR the instructor bemused both of us as we watched the rope
drift aft over the top of the G-103's wing until I could barely see the
aft end of the loop from the front cockpit. It was one of the times I
almost overrode an instructor's "My ship." In hindsight, we both agreed I
probably should have. What WERE we thinking?!?

Bob W.