Parowan Fatal Crash

On Jul 1, 2:32*pm, bildan wrote:
Any attempt to turn will trip an asymmetric stall which will develop
into a spin in less than a second. * *Just before the glider spins,
everything "looks" normal. *(Except, of course, for the ridiculously
low airspeed, sloppy controls, absence of wind noise etc...) *Several
high time glider pilots doing a BFR with me didn't see this one coming
and were visibly shaken by their 'inadvertent spin'.

What happens next is crucial. *If the pilot does nothing, the glider
is likely to transition into a spiral dive. *
I do not understand this last sentence. What converts a spin into a
spiral dive? What is the aerdynamic/physics here?
Heinz

Bill,

Do you mean you don't teach the difference between spins and spiral dives
in the States?! That's a pre-solo exercise in the UK. We also teach all
the possible spin entries, not all of which are nose high with a bootful
of rudder, and more importantly how to avoid the situations where they can
occur.

I agree that many gliders will spiral out of an initial spin entry, and
that the recovery actions are quite different, namely.

Spin:

1) Centralise the ailerons
2) Apply full outspin rudder
3) Move the stick steadily forward until the spin stops
4) Centralise the rudder and ease out of the dive.

Spiral Dive,

1) Keep the stick fairly well back and use the controls normally to reduce
the angle of bank.

Spins and spiral dives look and feel quite different. In particular the
speed and g will continue to increase in a spiral dive, whereas they
don't in a spin.

Derek Copeland


At 21:32 01 July 2009, bildan wrote:

At 21:32 01 July 2009, bildan wrote:

The people who taught me the killer spin were my students. As in, "I
didn't know a glider would do that."

I suppose I shouldn't laugh, but this really is sort of funny. It's
also one reason I don't think I could stand the stress of instructing.

These spins require a set up. First, fly at minimum controllable
airspeed for at least 30 seconds. Try to let the glider slowly and
smoothly enter "mushing flight". In "mushing flight" the glider is
not quite stalled but the airflow over the wing has become unstable.
Any disturbance will trip it into a full stall.

My experience in BFRs has been that instructors consistently approach the
subject of spins in just this way. Not the full back stick and then kick
rudder approach, but something realistic. Usually simulating the turn to
final when too slow, afraid to bank sufficiently hard, and then pushing
the turn with rudder. Down goes the wing.

Jim Beckman

On Jul 1, 10:41*am, Ramy wrote:
On Jul 1, 10:21*am, Frank Whiteley wrote:

On Jul 1, 10:55*am, ContestID67 wrote:

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12717073

There've been some conflicting reports. *This has a bit more detailhttp://www.thespectrum.com/article/20090701/NEWS01/907010314/Glider+a...

We are having a horrible year. 2fatalcrashes in 2 US regional
contests one day after the other. Both sounds like the glider suddenly
plummeted to the ground. Very depressing. I hope we will find out one
day why very experienced pilots suddenly loose control and hit the
ground.

Ramy

Where was the other one? I'm out here at Cedar City at a Navion
Convention and visted Parowan Monday when they were landing. Great to
see, but sad news about the crash.

On Jul 1, 10:15*pm, Patty Haley wrote:
On Jul 1, 10:41*am, Ramy wrote:

On Jul 1, 10:21*am, Frank Whiteley wrote:

On Jul 1, 10:55*am, ContestID67 wrote:

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12717073

There've been some conflicting reports. *This has a bit more detailhttp://www.thespectrum.com/article/20090701/NEWS01/907010314/Glider+a...

We are having a horrible year. 2fatalcrashes in 2 US regional
contests one day after the other. Both sounds like the glider suddenly
plummeted to the ground. Very depressing. I hope we will find out one
day why very experienced pilots suddenly loose control and hit the
ground.

Ramy

Where was the other one? I'm out here at Cedar City at a Navion
Convention and visted Parowan Monday when they were landing. Great to
see, but sad news about the crash.

On course outside of Ephrata, near Soap Lake.

Both were on Monday.