Released tow rope brushes a Discus 2b after the tug misses the disconnect

After a Discus 2b released from aerotow at about 2,200 m near Schänis, its freed rope brushed the glider; both crews were unhurt and the Discus was left with light scratches and a bent gear-door hinge. The tug — a high-powered Turbo Bravo — was flying on reduced power at the glider pilot's radioed request to ease rope tension for release. Because the rope was slightly slack, the tug pilot never felt the disconnect and climbed on some 10 to 20 m above the glider; on spotting it low behind him in his mirror, he banked steeply left with airbrakes out, and the trailing rope struck the Discus. The glider handled normally and landed at Schänis.

1. Aerotow to release height: A Discus 2b was aerotowed near Schänis behind a high-powered AS 202 Turbo Bravo and reached release height at about 2,200 m.
2. Low-power release procedure: To keep the strong tug from snapping the rope forward on release, the glider pilot radioed his intent so the tug pilot could reduce power and ease the rope tension.
3. Slack rope hides the release: The rope was slightly slack, so the tug pilot never felt the disconnect and kept climbing on reduced power, ending some 10 to 20 m above the glider.
4. Tug turns steeply into the rope: On spotting the glider low behind him in his mirror, the tug pilot banked steeply left with airbrakes out, and the trailing rope swung into the Discus.
5. Rope brushes the Discus; lands safe: The rope scraped the glider's nose and bent a gear-door hinge but did not affect its handling; the Discus landed at Schänis, both crews unhurt.