Emergency landing after tow rope damages glider during glider activity towing operation.

Attributes
ACN	243932
Time
Date	199306
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : adg
State Reference	MI
Altitude	agl bound lower : 2100 agl bound upper : 2100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Sail Plane
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude landing other other
Route In Use	approach : visual enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 21 flight time total : 3510 flight time type : 220
ASRS Report	243932
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter other non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was giving a flying lesson in a glider. At an altitude of about 2100 ft AGL while on tow, slack developed in the tow line. In reducing the slack, the tow line whipped over the right wing and caught on the inboard edge of the aileron. The tow rope broke and the glider returned and landed without difficulty. The damage consisted of 3 broken ribs and the rear spar to which the aileron was attached.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMER LNDG AFTER TOW ROPE DAMAGES GLIDER DURING GLIDER ACTIVITY TOWING OP.

Narrative: I WAS GIVING A FLYING LESSON IN A GLIDER. AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 2100 FT AGL WHILE ON TOW, SLACK DEVELOPED IN THE TOW LINE. IN REDUCING THE SLACK, THE TOW LINE WHIPPED OVER THE R WING AND CAUGHT ON THE INBOARD EDGE OF THE AILERON. THE TOW ROPE BROKE AND THE GLIDER RETURNED AND LANDED WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. THE DAMAGE CONSISTED OF 3 BROKEN RIBS AND THE REAR SPAR TO WHICH THE AILERON WAS ATTACHED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.