GPC - Glider Pilot Certificate Abnormal and Emergency Procedures Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a winch launch, the cable breaks when the glider is at an altitude of approximately 150 feet AGL with a steep nose-up attitude. Which of the following actions is the most critical and must be performed FIRST?
- Promptly and positively lower the nose to establish a safe flying speed. (Correct answer)
- Attempt a gentle 180-degree turn to land back at the launch point.
- Transmit a radio call declaring the emergency.
- Pull the cable release handle twice to ensure the remaining cable is jettisoned.
Correct answer: Promptly and positively lower the nose to establish a safe flying speed.
The most immediate danger after a winch cable break at a high pitch attitude is a stall followed by a potential spin. The pilot's first and most critical action must be to lower the nose to reduce the angle of attack and establish a safe flying speed. All other actions, such as releasing the remaining cable or planning the landing, are secondary to flying the aircraft and preventing a loss of control.
Question 2: A pilot recognizes that their glider is in a spiral dive, indicated by a steep bank, a low pitch attitude, and a rapidly increasing airspeed. Which sequence of actions is correct for recovery?
- Apply full rudder opposite to the direction of the turn and move the stick forward.
- Pull back hard on the control stick to bring the nose up to the horizon as quickly as possible.
- Close the spoilers, use coordinated aileron and rudder to level the wings, and then gently ease the control stick back to recover from the dive. (Correct answer)
- Deploy full spoilers to create drag and slow the aircraft before taking any other action.
Correct answer: Close the spoilers, use coordinated aileron and rudder to level the wings, and then gently ease the control stick back to recover from the dive.
In a spiral dive, the aircraft is not stalled, but is in a steep, descending turn with increasing airspeed. Pulling back on the stick before leveling the wings will tighten the spiral and could cause a structural failure due to high G-loads. The correct procedure is to first close spoilers (if open), then level the wings to stop the turn, and finally, gently ease out of the dive to avoid overstressing the airframe.
Question 3: A VFR-rated glider pilot inadvertently flies into a cloud and loses all outside visual references. To prevent a spiral dive and exit the instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), what is the most appropriate course of action?
- Pull back on the control stick to slow the aircraft down to near stall speed, minimizing control sensitivity.
- Trust the instruments, make a gentle 180-degree turn, and maintain a constant airspeed, keeping control inputs smooth. (Correct answer)
- Deploy full spoilers/airbrakes immediately to increase stability and descend out of the cloud.
- Ignore the instruments and rely on the feeling of G-forces to keep the wings level.
Correct answer: Trust the instruments, make a gentle 180-degree turn, and maintain a constant airspeed, keeping control inputs smooth.
When a VFR pilot enters IMC, spatial disorientation is the greatest threat. The correct procedure is to trust the instruments, not bodily sensations. The primary goal is to initiate a gentle, standard-rate 180-degree turn to reverse course and fly out of the cloud. The pilot should make only small, smooth control inputs while focusing on the basic instruments to maintain a constant airspeed and prevent over-controlling, which can lead to a spiral dive.
Question 4: While on the final approach for landing, a pilot finds that the spoilers/airbrakes are jammed and will not extend. The glider is currently high on the ideal glide path. What is the recommended corrective action?
- Increase the pitch attitude to slow the glider down and reduce the glide ratio.
- Perform a series of S-turns on the final approach to extend the flight path.
- Maintain normal approach speed but plan for a much longer landing roll and potential overshoot.
- Initiate a forward slip to increase drag and steepen the descent path without a significant increase in airspeed. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Initiate a forward slip to increase drag and steepen the descent path without a significant increase in airspeed.
A forward slip is the primary method for increasing the rate of descent when spoilers or airbrakes are inoperative. By applying rudder and opposite aileron, the pilot presents the side of the fuselage to the relative wind, creating significant drag. This allows for a steeper, more controlled descent angle without the airspeed increasing excessively, enabling the pilot to correct a high approach and still land in the desired area.
Question 5: A pilot inadvertently enters a spin to the left. Which of the following describes the most widely accepted and correct recovery procedure for most gliders?
- Apply full right rudder, neutralize ailerons, and move the control stick forward until rotation stops. (Correct answer)
- Apply full right aileron and pull the control stick back to increase the angle of attack.
- Deploy full spoilers/airbrakes and apply full right rudder.
- Neutralize all controls and wait for the glider to self-recover.
Correct answer: Apply full right rudder, neutralize ailerons, and move the control stick forward until rotation stops.
The standard spin recovery procedure involves three distinct actions. First, apply full rudder opposite to the direction of rotation to stop the yawing motion. Second, neutralize the ailerons. Third, move the control stick forward to reduce the angle of attack and break the stall. Once the rotation stops, the controls are neutralized, and the pilot recovers from the resulting dive.
Question 6: During an off-field landing, the pilot establishes a "high key" position. What is the primary purpose of this specific point in the emergency landing pattern?
- To serve as the final go/no-go decision point for committing to the chosen field.
- To signal to other aircraft the intention to land by flying directly over the center of the field.
- To act as a high-altitude reference point from which a shortened circuit can be reliably flown, ensuring the field is reachable. (Correct answer)
- To be the point where the pre-landing checklist is initiated for the first time.
Correct answer: To act as a high-altitude reference point from which a shortened circuit can be reliably flown, ensuring the field is reachable.
The "high key" position, typically upwind of the landing area at a specific altitude (e.g., 800-1000 ft AGL), is a crucial reference point in a planned off-field landing pattern. Its purpose is to ensure the pilot has sufficient altitude (potential energy) to assess the field, plan and fly a circuit (downwind, base, final), and adjust for wind, guaranteeing they can reach the landing threshold with adequate energy to flare.
GPC - Glider Pilot Certificate Abnormal and Emergency Procedures Questions and Answers
During a winch launch, the cable breaks when the glider is at an altitude of approximately 150 feet AGL with a steep nose-up attitude.
Which of the following actions is the most critical and must be performed FIRST?