WRT spinning fatalities, Preamble: ============= Mike Borgelt cites examples of experienced pilots being killed in spin accidents, but why? (Also let's not forget that terrible inflight break up of a Blanik that entered a spiral dive after recovery from a spin due to possible failure to recognise recovery, although the true facts may never be known, please refer to http://www.gfa.org.au/Docs/ops/opsadvice0197.pdf).
Impressions of the Puch (from a non-Puch pilot!!!!!): =================================================== I have never flown a Puch, but a brief internet research divides people into the: (for example http://www.aviation-forum.com/gliders/Unintentional_fullydeveloped_spins_119 182.html http://www.aviation-forum.com/gliders/Puch_spin_in_118650.html) 1) The Puch will recover from a spin when correct spin recovery technique is used (the recovery may take time, but the spin will recover) 2) The Puch is an unpredictable and potentially dangerous (if not fatal) machine to spin. It is enlightening to hear people's experiences in the Puch on this list. It may never be known if the spin fatalities followed normal spin recovery techniques, although one assumes that if experienced pilots have been killed something is wrong, however even experienced pilots make mistakes through complacency. Where to from here? =================== The key lies in active research and correct training. Research: ======== Some people on the aus-soaring list have asked whether spin training actually saves lives (and possibly that more people have died in spin training than actually been saved from an unintentional spin). All this is anecdotal. Facts would need to be gathered and statistical analysis would need to be applied before people can start making general statements about the impact of spin training, although no doubt there are many individual stories about recovering from an unintentional spin. Converting this to statistics is actually quite difficult because it would rely upon objective reporting of a subjective event! Also would anyone be prepared to cease spin training and see if the spin fatality rate rises (a example of a case-control study!) I suspect not. Training: ======== What and how we train should be based on research (i.e facts and data). The aim of spin recovery is to first recognise that a spin (incipient or fully developed) has occurred and to recover from the spin with minimum height loss. My hypothesis (based on experience) of situations where an unintentional fully developed spin are more likely (although I would need to find data to research this!!!): 1) Turning after a winch launch failure before safe airspeed is reached. 2) Failure to recognise and recover from an incipient spin before it reaches the fully developed stage (i.e. whilst thermalling or on outlanding). A plan to prevent these situations: 1) Reinforce from day 1 the importance of safe speed near the ground (unless flaring ;-)). Theoretically this is the best insurance against unintentional spinning. I call this a "non negotiable item of flying". Rule of primacy (i.e. the first fact learned often sticks) 2) Teaching pilots to recognise the situations that are likely to lead to an incipient spin (i.e. sloppy thermalling, slow poorly co-ordinated turns whilst outlanding). i.e. develop an internal system of checks and a sense of urgency to correct a situation before it develops too far. 3) Teaching pilots the symptoms of the incipient spin and the correct prompt recovery actions to minimse height loss. All the glider types I have flown can do incipient spins (see P.S.). This is the crux of preventing spin accidents. 4) And then only after the first three points have been understood fully should training regarding full spin recovery be instituted. Of course this would all need to be supported by data and research!!!! ;-) M.T. P.S. I have flown various numbers of gliders (i.e. Bocian 1E, Bergfalke, ES59 Arrow, Super Arrow, Club Libelle, Standard Libelle, Pik 20D, Grob G103, Grob G102, Hornet, Discus, Boomerang, IS28, PW5, Ventus, Janus, Short Wing Kookaburra, ASK21, Long Wing Kookaburra) and all go through the incipient spin stage before becoming fully developed. Many of these types and go to incipient spin stage and either self recover or degenerate into a spiral dive. It would seem that the incipient spin stage is a crucial point (i.e all gliders are capable of going incipient). However are there gliders that go straight into a fully developed spin without a noticeable incipient stage? Private replies preferred. _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
