Towpilot killed during aerotow

[Don Grillo]

More information is coming out about the towplane crash that happened on May 9th. A dashcam video has emerged that shows the initial launch of a glider being aero-towed.  All seems normal until the glider seems to kite while still close to the ground.  You can see that the kiting took only 3 seconds.  There are reports that the glider was a 1-26 and that the canopy opened shortly after liftoff.

Number one. Always fly the airplane first. It only takes a few seconds to get out of proper tow position. A distraction such as an open canopy doesn’t have to end terribly.  What would you have done?

Here is a link to the video.

[Don Grillo]

 

[Dennis Burke]

Any comments on the Kathryns Report concerning the standard Schweitzer towhook on the T.P. ?……the report mentioned about the popular standard STC mounting and release swing……That the high-position kited glider can make the towpilot’s side jam,  no release.

[John Lincoln]

For what it’s worth. If the canopy did come open there is a very easy fix. I know because this has happened to me. (Note that this was on my check list of before take off things to do but because it was a contest and we ended up in a hurry I missed it.) When this happened I yawed the glider such that the relative wind pushed the canopy closed. This happened in a Standard Cirrus, so I used my free left hand to latch the canopy. Of course you have to also do EXACTLY what Don Grillo says you MUST do, which is fly the AIRCRAFT!!!!!!!! Also like Don says if you cannot see the towplane release, RELEASE, RELEASE!!!!!! One final note I will add here. I don’t do my pre-takeoff check list once. I usually do it 3 or 4 times. I do this so that if something happens on takeoff (and things have happened) when I run through my check list again in my head I can remember that I did check the items on the list. What ever the issue is it wasn’t an issue at the start of the takeoff roll. John Lincoln

[Tim Ponsot]

All good points made here. It’s true that it is possible to jam a Schweizer type release if the load is applied in the wrong direction, perpendicular to the long axis of the swinging link. Denny made a great point about the tow plane being susceptible.

I also wonder if the pitch attitude of the kiting glider rose to a point where the angle of the tow rope caused its release, also, to jam.

In essence I wonder if both releases jammed at once because of the unusual pitch attitudes.

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