HI all,
Mark said "one could also suggest that the prominence of accidents attributable to "canopy open in-flight" at clubs which already perform that check suggests that the check isn't being performed properly. Maybe Mark, maybe not. Recently when I was flying an LS4 and after about 90 minutes the left canopy lock jumped from the fully closed position to open with a loud clunk all by itself.(It was quite definitely fully in the closed position at takeoff, and the noise scared the *&[EMAIL PROTECTED] out of me at the time!)It is also relatively easy to unknowingly bump things like this in flight, and that would cause a problem regardless of the checks beforehand. It is not rare for pilots to claim they did check canopy was locked at takeoff after an incident of this kind. Maybe they did, no one knows. Maybe there is more to these incidents than blame the checks? A full length 2 seater canopy can expand and contract as much as 10mm due to temp changes according to the DG website. This is what causes some canopies to be hard to close in hot weather. At my club CARD checks are done and personally when running wings I always look at the canopy latch rather than accept the pilots word on whether the canopy is locked or not. I check both canopies in the case of a 2 seater. I was quite surprised when at Joey glide 05 people refused to do a card check, saying "we don't do that here". On the subject of control labeling/feel, I remember a very experienced instructor releasing at 400ft from aerotow when trying to adjust the rudder pedals in a Discus. This was in part caused by the T shaped handle fitted to both the release and the pedal adjustment. I now believe all release handles should have a shape that is unique from any other handles or levers, another example is the Blanik Flap and airbrake levers, one should be able feel the difference easily without looking. Of course in a perfect world one does the locate/identify/operate procedure, but no one -with the possible exception of Mark, is perfect. (-: Dave -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:aus-soaring- [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mark Newton Sent: Monday, 30 April 2007 1:40 PM To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Wheels up or wheels down... (was accident ratefor gliders in Australia) Stueh Stueh wrote: > All you need to do really is make very very sure you know the glider & > controls back to front before you fly it instead of having to look > around. If you're colour blind and just glance, you could end up pulling > the airbrakes instead of water ballast etc. (as an example, and that's > if the handles are near each other & look the same :P) Could be worse: Confusing the fuel cock and canopy jettison on a Discus 2T could make life interesting... - mark -------------------------------------------------------------------- I tried an internal modem, [EMAIL PROTECTED] but it hurt when I walked. Mark Newton ----- Voice: +61-4-1620-2223 ------------- Fax: +61-8-82356937 ----- _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
