Banner towing aircraft ditches into the sea, one rescued.

[NutLoose]

Glad they are safe, I would imagine the banner would be a heck of a braking effect when it went into the water

Twitter

https://heysocal.com/2022/07/22/plan...erson-rescued/

[txl]

"I got it on video" seems to be the first thing people care about these days.

[rnzoli]

Originally Posted by NutLoose

I would imagine the banner would be a heck of a braking effect when it went into the water

In general probably true, yet in this case the banner hardly touched the water by the time the tow plane ditched with high vertical speed, no flare.

n a related note, can anyone guess, why the banner was not released prior to the ditching? Getting rid of the extra drag could have given the aircraft more energy left for a proper flare before the ditching.

[NutLoose]

They were all trainee lifeguards taking part in a competition, handy place to ditch.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/world-news/fb6...f36ef5a7d1b5c/

[FUMR]

Originally Posted by txl

"I got it on video" seems to be the first thing people care about these days.

Always handy for the investigators in fact!

As for releasing the banner comments: Often these banner towing activities over the sea take place relatively low. Could be that the pilot had little time to react between "wtf" and splash.

[rnzoli]

Originally Posted by FUMR

As for releasing the banner comments: Often these banner towing activities over the sea take place relatively low. Could be that the pilot had little time to react between "wtf" and splash.

Yeah, that's true. I am probably biased by knowing that glider tugs must be really quick in releasing a glider, if it starts to climb too high behind them and lifting the tug's tail, risking the tow plane descend into the ground at low altitude.
But these banner towing operations are not only at low level constantly, but also boring as hell, so when the WTF moment happens, mobilizing congnitive power is harder than in the glider tugs, where the pilots know their kill zones in advance and better anticipate WTF happening to them.

[punkalouver]

Originally Posted by rnzoli

Yeah, that's true. I am probably biased by knowing that glider tugs must be really quick in releasing a glider, if it starts to climb too high behind them and lifting the tug's tail, risking the tow plane descend into the ground at low altitude.
But these banner towing operations are not only at low level constantly, but also boring as hell, so when the WTF moment happens, mobilizing congnitive power is harder than in the glider tugs, where the pilots know their kill zones in advance and better anticipate WTF happening to them.

Having towed gliders, I was fortunate to never have any issues such as the tail being lifted. But if it were to happen, it would seem that instinct would be to initially pull aft on the control stick. One might instinctively start using the other hand to assist instead of pulling the release. It is good to perhaps review procedere/simulated scenario prior to first tow of the day.

In addition, once the tow rope is released the strong nose-up elevator input might lead to a rapid pitch up and stall.

It would be interesting to hear the experience of a tow pilot that decided to release a glider due to the glider getting too high.

[EXDAC]

Originally Posted by punkalouver

It would be interesting to hear the experience of a tow pilot that decided to release a glider due to the glider getting too high.

I had a Standard Cirrus pitch up and turn away without confirming release. Cirrus CG hook back released before I got my hand to the handle. I also went to the funeral of a young tow pilot who was killed by a glider pilot who got high early in the tow.

Don't assume you will be fast enough to release. Also be aware that the hook commonly used in USA will not release when loaded by a kiting glider.