Letter to the FAA

Originally Posted by Scott Williams

Walt,
Convince me,
Please list at least the dates and locations of fatal tow accidents since, say, 1950 which were caused by failure of a tow release on the tug initiated by a "kiting' glider. Of course, Schweizer releases mounted non inverted.
Thank you.

Scott,

I am currently doing as complete an analysis of the situation as I can to support my position and this will take some time but I'm curious. How many fatal accidents attributable to a Schweizer hook failure to release in a kiting situation would it take to have you on my side? One? Two? Five? Come back with a specific number and I will share with you what I have.

I CAN tell you the date, place and the name of the pilot who last found himself 1 second from being on that list. It was 4-20-17 at SLGP and the pilots name was Walt Connelly. Had the rope not broken....

Walt

How many fatal accidents attributable to a Schweizer hook failure to
release in a kiting situation would it take to have you on my side?
One? Two? Five?
If that is your logic recreational flight is not defensible. We average half dozen glider pilot fatalities in the US per year. Are you going to write a letter about that? Being a tow pilot, even with an Elmira Death Hook, is safer than being a glider pilot. If it is worth it to get the FAA involved to save towpilots it would be hypocritical and morally wrong not to get the FAA involved in saving glider pilots.

Even one is a tragedy,

Please Share,
Scott





How many fatal accidents attributable to a Schweizer hook failure to
release in a kiting situation would it take to have you on my side?
One? Two? Five? Come back with a specific number and I will share
with you what I have.

I CAN tell you the date, place and the name of the pilot who last
found himself 1 second from being on that list. It was 4-20-17 at SLGP
and the pilots name was Walt Connelly. Had the rope not broken....

Walt




--
Walt Connelly

At 16:39 07 June 2017, Scott Williams wrote:

It is interesting to note that no one denies that the Schweizer hook has
an inherent design fault that can lead to failure to release.
It is clear that most people agree that the TOST release is safer and
does not suffer from the same fault.
It is obvious that a release control mounted near the throttle in a tow
plane provides more opportunity to release quickly in the event of an
upset.
It is well proven that if release is required in these circumstances it is

imperative that it happens quickly.
All these things have been "known" for some time, and for whatever
reason, some have ignored the common sense solution of fitting TOST
releases and mounting the release knob near the throttle.
Given that the people responsible for safety within the US soaring
community appear to have, and continue to, ignore the obvious danger
what other action could Walt possibly take?
As an outside observer from a part of the world where the fitting of the
release knob close to the throttle is mandated, as the result of one fatal

accident, (one that led to the death of a very good friend) I would have
to conclude that Walt really does have no alternative. No one else
appears to have the courage to take any action.
US soaring has had more than enough time to put it's house in order,
when self regulation fails there is only one other alternative.
That accident that I describe by the way, occurred 39 years ago, how
long does it take you to learn?

After considering my last post a thought came to me. There is no need
for Walt to send a letter to the FAA, unless they are blind deaf and
stupid, they already know. I find it hard to believe that they would not
be aware of what has been said in this thread.
Given that the USA has the reputation of being the home of the most
litigious people on the planet I find it hard to believe that knowing
there is a problem, and failing to act might not be the wisest course of
action. I am sure that the FAA are a far more lucrative target to sue, in
the event of an accident, than the SAA or an individual club or glider
operation.
Surely Pandora's Box is already open and the clock is ticking.

On Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at 5:45:08 PM UTC-5, Don Johnstone wrote:
I am sure that the FAA are a far more lucrative target to sue, in
the event of an accident, than the SAA or an individual club or glider
operation.


OMG! That is hilarious - better even than the "Elmira Death Hook"!

Seriously - you really can't sue the FAA - it's the government and they WILL win. But a glider operation with some liquid assets?

Not to belittle Walt's plight - and as a fellow tow pilot who has also had an upset (although minor) in a Schweizer-equipped Pawnee - I am completely in the camp that all the Elmira Death Hooks (giggle) should be trashed and replaced with Tost release. 33.3 percent done on our towplanes, should be 66.6 by the end of the year, perhaps higher if we sell the last Schweizer equipped death trap (Anyone seriously interested in a 180 SuperCub?).

And while you are at it, trash the Gollywhompers that at bolted to the Elmira Death Hooks!

(Thanks Pez D Spencer!)

Kirk
66

You can sue the FAA and win. I know someone personally who did, rather his estate did.

Originally Posted by

You can sue the FAA and win. I know someone personally who did, rather his estate did.

There are many common misconceptions concerning lawsuits, one of which is that you can't sue a goverment agency. Not so. "The Federal Tort Claims Act waives the historic concept of “sovereign immunity” inherited from English law. It is possible to sue a federal employee who commits a tortuous act (negligence) within the scope of employment. An example would be a pilot complying with an ATC IFR clearance that causes him to fly into a mountain."

That being said if you want to go after a goverment agency you better have a strong, willing lawyer on your side and deep pockets. It's gonna cost you.

Walt