A 25 year old archeology student died on impact after her glider's wings suffered a catastrophic separation at one thousand feet during a university glider competition. Such gliders are normally trailered to and assembled at the site. The young lady successfully completed a test flight just prior to the fatal flight. Her boyfriend who witnessed the accident saw nothing amiss in the configuration or operation of the aircraft prior to the abrupt separation of the wings from the fuselage. The young lady was known to be active in white water rafting and gliding and was known as a competent and experienced glider pilot.
No cause of the wing separation has been determined. It is expected that the British Air Ministry will delegate the responsibility for the investigation to the on-site university officials who were conducting the Inter University Gliding Competition. The glider design first appeared in the early 1960s. The wood glue used in this particular glider is unknown. Apparently some of the earlier casien based glues are subject to deterioration due to fungal growth. Later gliders are said to use plastic adhesives that are stronger than the wood to which they bond.
I would have been interested in seeing her PhD dissertation published since the topic was trace elements in soil and cancer distribution. I of course have my own opinions on the subject but am more interested in linking barium content of drinking water to later diagnoses of Multiple Sclerosis. Mainly its a more prompt though less specific diagnosis since cancers tend to appear later in life with the much debated "aging causes cancer" and "cancer causes aging" controversy still unresolved.
ADDENDUM: The official cause of the fatal accident was the failure of the lower bevel bolt to be installed properly. It is impossible for the pilot to inspect such bolts or the manner in which they have been inserted. The glider pilot had ten years of experience and was president of her collegiate gliding club. Her boyfriend who had the misfortune to have to watch her rapid and uncontrollable near vertical descent from approximately 1,000 feet was an experienced glider instructor. The accident was of course totally unsurvivable even if the lower but less reliable estimate of 600 feet is assumed.
I do so hope her unfinished PhD work on the geographic distribution of trace elements in the soil and the pattern of cancer diagnoses gets published. I remain particularly interested in barium distribution rates and the subsequent diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.
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3 comments:
Perhaps its a higher achievement in life to be described as a loss to archeology as well as a loss to medicine, but why do things like this have to happen to the most safety conscious pilots rather than the bold and daring ones?
At the request of the Air Ministry the BGA has issued a safety notice:
An on going accident investigation has raised a possible issue with the rigging procedure on
gliders incorporating an expanding pin/cone type main pin.
When rigging gliders with the expanding pin/cone device ensure the spar joining lugs are
properly aligned and if extra force is required to expand the pin/cone device STOP and
establish why. It is probable that the wings are not correctly aligned or that the assembly has
sustained mechanical damage or failure. Expanding the pin into improperly aligned wings, or with a mechanical failure of the device,
may give false indications of successful rigging. Up to the point of final engagement the
operation of the expanding pin/cone device should be smooth and relatively easy, if you
cannot operate it by hand there is probably something wrong.
Chief Technical Officer
02 September 2010
I'm reminded of the large sign that hung for decades in the Wilkes Baare plant: If you have to bend or force a part to make it fit, ... Don't!.
Amy Barsby's father spoke at her memorial service last Friday about his daughter's skills and interests in a wide variety of activities.
FS
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