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Premature Termination of Tow

Premature Termination of Tow. An Accident. The Ultimate in Distraction. 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.

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Premature Termination of Tow

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  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.

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