Actual Rope Break

At 23:20 01 June 2014, Kevin Christner wrote:
I had my first "rope break" ever today. I was approximately 200-250ft
abov=
e the ground. Emergency procedures were not a problem.

The Tost released for some reason. Its a nose hook so the back release
mec=
hanism could not have been the culprit. Further testing with the wheel
bre=
ak on the ground revealed no problems so I took another tow and had no
prob=
lems. The ring may not have been engaged properly (doubtful) or the
slack
=
I got in the rope was just too much when it tightened back up (probable
but=
the release still should have held).

In any case has anyone else ever experienced an actual emergency
unplanned
=
release? In 14 years of flying I have never heard of one. Good thing we
d=
o practice this. =20



I fly at a mainly winch launch site but perhaps fortunately originally
learnt to fly at an aero-tow site. A few years ago whilst we had a tug on
site I was giving a first ride in a Duo to a prospective syndicate partner
behind a Super Cub. As we drew level with the winch, at the far end of the
field with perhaps 300 yards of grass before a fairly high hedge, I saw the
unusual sight of the tow rope snaking towards me. I guess our height was
between 150-300 feet. I opted for a 360 degree turn and land on the grass
behind the winch. To his credit my passenger never made a sound till after
we stopped and yes he did buy a share!- The problem? The tug pilot had his
map hanging on the release cord and found it restricted his view so pulled
it off pulling the release in the process! He did buy me a beer that
evening.