Why the T-Tail?

Mis-rigging could happen to any type. A school teacher was killed in Wales
one day while I was soaring due to mis-rigging one of the ruddervator
control guides on his v-tailed BG-135, diving in from the top of the winch
launch (his second of the day). It was only the second occasion he'd rigged
the glider IIRC. Could have been a t-tail.

I flew a v-tailed SHK for four years. The rigging of the control guides was
very similar and held the same potential for being mis-rigged as the
aforementioned BG-135. The sad part is that the guide is clearly in view
during control deflection. This is one very specific instance where a PCC
might not have detected the problem, but a visual inspection would. The
fact that he made the first flight successfully attests to this. The actual
disconnect probably happened during ground handling or during he landing
role and wasn't noticed before the second flight.

Frank Whiteley

"Mark James Boyd" wrote in message
news:41818446$1@darkstar...
This is the only fatality I am aware of at Avenal, and the
only ruddervator mechanism-related T-tail fatality I have read.

NTSB Identification: LAX92LA393 .
The docket is stored on NTSB microfiche number 48074.
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, September 18, 1992 in AVENAL, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 9/14/1993
Aircraft: SPARKS-SCHREDER HP-140V, registration: N704B
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

Prob cause:
" THE LOSS OF PITCH AND YAW CONTROL DUE TO THE SEPARATION OF THE
RUDDERVATOR CONTROL CABLE FROM ITS CLEVIS FORK DUE TO IMPROPER
INSTALLATION."

In article ,
Peter Wyld wrote:
At 08:54 28 October 2004, Marian_Aldenhövel wrote:
Hi,

Thank you all, I have learned a lot. I have also come
up
with two more things to consider, both rather minor
I suspect:

- The control linkages are propably more complicated
in a T-Tail (con).
- With a T-Tail you can build the elevator in one
piece so you
can rig and derig more easily (pro).

Now why are we not seeing more V-Tails? The main pro
for T-Tails
seem to be:

- Good ground clearance
- Less drag
- Operates in clean undisturbed air

How does a V-Tail stand up against that?


Complicated mixing box required for elevator/rudder
control.




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Mark J. Boyd