Would you spin your Nimbus IV? Just wondering, what does the manual say?
26 metres must have interesting effects? And I would stop it at the incipient stage. Alan Wilson > > From: "Harry Medlicott" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: 12/12/2004 11:38:02 > To: "aus Soaring" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [Aus-soaring] my last word > > Hi All, > > As the one who started the debate on the Puchaz and its safe? handling > qualities, may I say it has been very disappointing to read some of the > repsonses by Puchaz jockeys. > > To summarise, > > No one has questioned that:- > > (a) The world wide statistics show the Puchaz has been involved in a > disproportionately high number of spin related accidents, mostly fatal and > that in many cases there has been an experienced pilot on board. > > (b) The glider can easily enter a spin in most C of G positions and that > recovery takes precise recovery action compared with other well known > trainers in which it can be difficult to achieve spin entry and in many cases > just letting the controls go will result in a properly trimmed glider > regaining unstalled flight. > > (c) All pilots should be competent and current in recognising and recovering > from stalls, incipient spins and fully developed spins. These skills can only > be taught and regularly validated in a two seater glider flying with an > experienced pilot. > > There are two conclusions. Firstly the need for those operating a Puchaz to > set extremely cautious standards, such as considering increasing the minimum > cockpit loads to ensure a well forward C.of G. and stipulating high minimum > heights for spin training exercises. Secondly, maybe the Puchaz can be > improved. Quite some years ago the undersirable habit of a Cirrus to > unexpectantly enter a spin was ameliorated by modifying the wingtips with > washout. Puchaz owners should be leading this push through the GFA. > > My third personal conclusion is that any club which imports a Puchaz until > these problems are resolved has rocks in the head. > > Harry Medlicott > > A very well reasoned summary was posted on the internet early this year by > the CFI of the Edmonton club in Canada. It follows. > > I've recently heard of yet another double fatality (?), in the UK, which > occured perhaps some four or five weeks ago. Whether this is the 23rd on your > list, I don't know. I don't have the precise date and have been given few > details, but a Puchacz was apparently conducting routine spinning exercises > with a near solo student on board and an experienced instructor in charge. > After completing two separate planned spins with normal recovery, the glider > was supposedly seen to spin again and continue rotating until impact. I > understand that the UK authorities are still investigating the cause but if > you, or anyone else has any further info on this particular accident I would > like to hear from them. > > My club operates a Puchacz, and up to now we've not experienced any untoward > spin recovery problems provided we properly manage cockpit weight and > balance, and apply full and timely spin recovery action. It has already been > well documented over the years, that this glider type can, under certain > circumstances, be difficult to get under control fairly quickly if flown with > a bias toward an aft C of G. (The earlier Bocian had a pretty chequered > career in this respect too!) If not under control within a couple of turns, > it is likely that the spin might start to go flat. > > Our instructors are fully aware that it may require full stick forward > (against the stops), and maybe to go beyond the vertical during recovery for > a split second before lateral damping is fully restored. Considerable height > can be lost during some recoveries, and it's good policy to observe safety > heights. Full rudder in opposition to the turn does nothing on it's own. The > wings must be unstalled. Sit there with the stick in the middle and do what > you like with the rudder, and mostly there'll be no inclination to recover > what so ever. Stay like that and apply full in-spin aileron and you're in for > a real ride! Even with some heavy weights flying in the front cockpit we've > noticed that delay in taking proper recovery action can sometimes produce > some nasty moments when the expected unstall and acceleration refuses to take > place promptly. It's not uncommon to have to quickly repeat the full recovery > action, and get the desired effects second time around. Do that below 2000 > feet and you can soon be in a sweat! > > There are many and varied opinions on Puchacz spin entry and recovery > techniques. None the less, the Puchacz has killed many to date, around the > world, and sadly the trend is likely to continue. It is to be hoped that the > CAA and BGA can quickly shed light on this recent accident. Hopefully the > resulting info will be made available to the global gliding community without > delay. > > That another two lives have been lost is very saddening indeed, and in a > Puchacz again, makes me all the more concerned! This might make all operators > of this type feel that perhaps there's something, somewhere, about this > glider that still requires greater in depth investigation and explanation. > Let's hope we get an answer soon. Although there are other gliders with > equally notorious handling features, and some with very dubious aerodynamic > qualities, it's still very necessary to remember that all gliders, and > especially the Puch need treating with proper respect. > > > CFI Edmonton Soaring Club. > > This message was sent through MyMail http://www.mymail.com.au
puchaz spin charateristics.doc
Description: MS-Word document
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