Alternator 7/22

From: SA
Activity_Date: 7/22/01
Remote Name: 4.33.144.10

Comments

Headed up to the Alternator last Sunday with 8 pilots in tow, 3 P2's and 5 P1's. Everybody sledded out to Cieneguitas. One of the P1's came up a little short, and ended up getting a lift over to Cieneguitas after packing up.

The first pilot to launch the Alternator ended up having a short flight, and an experience we may be able to learn from. The pilot pulled up his wing to launch, and it angled about 20 degrees to his right as it was coming overhead. He started to move his feet with the wing the direction it was pointing, but gave no steering input to correct the wing and get it straight. He picked up speed as he moved with the wing. His feet couldn't keep up with the pace and he left the ground still facing the wing. The glider had speed and its bank angle was slightly increasing. It looked as though the pilot was going to land in the bushes he was angling towards, but caught an outcropped rock with the side/back of his harness which spun him round twice, and actually changed the gliders flying direction, sending him away from the hill with 2 full twists in his risers.

The trailing edge had a small amount of pressure on the back right trailing edge. The pilot was unable to use any brake to steer due to the pressure on his lines from the twists in his risers. He did manage to kick his legs and undo one of the riser twists, before landing 40 yards west of launch as the glider completed it's long slow right turn back toward the hill side. The pilot was not injured, and relaunched an hour later landing at Cieneguitas.

We assembled at launch and did a briefing on the incident shortly after the pilot landed in the bushes. After reflecting on the incident and the briefing that followed, I realized we had all learned some valuable lessons, and thankfully didn't have to pay a high price for the experience.

This incident was one that compounded into something that could have ended much worse than it did. The pilot’s first mistake was the sloppy launch. We can pull off launches most of the time when the canopy comes up with a slight turn in it. But there is always that one time where you don't pull it off, and instead of just going into the bushes, you end up with something else. I encourage all my students to settle for nothing but a straight wing when they pull up at any launch. It's very easy to get into the habit of trying to make every pull up work, especially at the training hill where we have a big chunk of real estate with no real obstructions. Try to be discipline with your pull up's and launches, and don't be afraid to bring the wing down if it's not straight, or you notice a knot or stick in your lines. Pilots and onlookers can help you get spread again if the wing comes down ugly, no big deal. Pull it down as many times as you need, and don't settle for launching if the glider is turning. If other pilots are in a hurry to launch do a pick up and go to the end of the line, don't be pressured to go if it's not right. If you can’t get it straight it's probably too cross to launch, and or you need to get out to the training hill for some practice.

What did we come up with regarding the riser twist? After flying away from the hill with 2 full riser twists the pilot attempted to add some brake to steer the wing, but could not get any travel in either of the lines due to pressure on the lines from the twists in the risers. Coming in hard on the brakes here would we a bad idea, because chances are the lines could not release due to the pressure from the twist, and the wing could stall or go into a spin. I was telling the pilot to kick his legs on the radio while he was twisted. This was a technique used and taught at the maneuvers clinic I attended last spring, and worked great for me both in the simulator, and above the lake where I initiated a riser twist scenario. The pilot could have kicked much harder from my observation, and he only managed to get one twist undone.

Chad witnessed the pilot’s flight and made a good point in suggesting that the pilot twist himself to face the flying direction, even if it means making another twist. Get turned around and face the flying direction so you are oriented.

The pilot had the option of using his rear risers to help control his flying direction, or to try and grab the brake lines above the twist to steer the glider. The pilot may have also tried to identify which way he was twisted then attempt to untwist after attaining a heading away from the hill.

The last thing you want to do is smack into the hill. Do your best to fly the glider away from the hill. Orientate yourself, and then deal with getting some steering control. After you are in control with a good heading, and enough altitude, attempt to untwist the risers. Try to identify the direction that you need to untwist and use the risers to unspin the twist. Kicking your legs will undo the twist as well. But, be sure to really kick, alternating legs to unlock the twist.