1 / 10

Premature Termination of Tow

This article discusses an accident involving a glider tow termination mishap, emphasizing the importance of proper training, pilot proficiency, and adherence to procedures. Analyze the chain of events, from wing runner actions to PIC decision-making, to understand the critical factors that contributed to the incident. The pilot's comments and mistakes highlight the risks of distraction, lack of knowledge, and inadequate training. Learn key lessons on vigilance, routine checks like GUMPS, and maintaining proficiency for aviation safety.

christinek
Download Presentation

Premature Termination of Tow

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Premature Termination of Tow An Accident

  2. The Ultimate in Distraction

  3. Blanik L-13 ACCIDENT • PIC was a 52 year old private pilot with approximately 450 hours total time and 4 hours in the L-13. • Pilot was giving a young person his first aircraft ride. • At 1100 feet AGL the tow plane signaled the glider that his spoilers were out. • He released and returned to the airfield. • Landed hard. • Aircraft totaled - no injuries.

  4. PIC comments • Pilot was in the cockpit checking his controls. • “ wing runner raised the wing.” • tow pilot saw wings level and him moving his rudder. • Takeoff started without him finishing his checklist. • At approximately 1,000 feet tow plane signaled a glider problem.

  5. Pilot’s Comments continued • Mistook tow plane signal and released. • At 900 to 1000 ft. AGL he headed directly to the airfield and “did GUMPS check”. • GUMPS? • Feels he “touched the flap handle” to confirm spoilers closed. • At mid-field he was 600 AGL, decided to fly a normal downwind.

  6. Pilot’s Comments continued • He noted he was “losing altitude faster than expected and turned base sooner than planned.” • He “decided to land cross runway.”

  7. The Mishap Chain • A series of events leading up to the accident. • One break in the chain could have prevented the accident. • 1. Wing runner raised the wing. • Was he properly trained. • Did he give the take-off signal? • Was the PIC using him as an excuse?

  8. The Mishap Chain • 2. Tow pilot procedures. • Highly experienced. • In a hurry? • Radio backup to the signals? • Did the towplane signal ready?

  9. The Mishap Chain • 3. Pilots decision to continue the takeoff. • PIC has the ultimate control - Release handle. • 4. Tow plane airborne signal. • PIC responsible to known the American Standard Soaring Signals. • 5. GUMPS check. (How’d he get past G?) • What happened to USTALL? • 600 feet above ground level at mid-field. • 6. Touchdown.

  10. Mishap Anatomy Distraction - Count on them. Lack of Knowledge - Knowledge is Life Insurance. Lack of Training - Identify your weak areas and fix. Lack of Proficiency - Skills have to be recharged. Preparation is the key. When I am totally prepared my flying is more FUN.

More Related