# Schweizer SGS 2-33A — Normal Procedures and Launch Emergencies

> **NOT FOR FLIGHT** — source fidelity: not_applicable | operational review: none | completeness: partial | 1 unresolved safety defect(s)

A glider, included to exercise the parts of the schema that a powered-aeroplane corpus never reaches: no engine, a launch phase with no equivalent in powered flight, and emergency procedures that are entirely about the tow. Wording is the contributor's own; procedures reflect ordinary US club practice for the type.

> **safety_defect**: No airspeeds or weight limits. Club and site procedures for signals, release points and pattern entry vary and override anything here.
> **content_gap**: Aerotow only. No winch or auto-tow launch procedures, and no spin recovery section.

## Daily and Preflight Inspection

- [ ] Canopy and latches — **CONDITION, SECURE**
- [ ] Controls — **FREE, FULL TRAVEL, CORRECT SENSE**
- [ ] Control connections and safeties — **CHECKED**
- [ ] Spoilers — **OPERATE, LOCK CLOSED**
- [ ] Tow release — **OPERATES AND RESETS**
- [ ] Wings, fuselage, tail surfaces — **NO DAMAGE, FABRIC INTACT**
- [ ] Tailwheel or skid, main wheel and tire — **CONDITION**
- [ ] Pitot and static — **UNOBSTRUCTED**
- [ ] Ballast and placards — **CORRECT FOR OCCUPANTS**

## Pre-Launch

- [ ] Straps — **TIGHT, ALL OCCUPANTS**
- [ ] Instruments — **ALTIMETER SET, ZEROED AS REQUIRED**
- [ ] Controls — **FREE, CORRECT**
- [ ] Canopy — **CLOSED AND LOCKED**
- [ ] Trim — **SET**
- [ ] Spoilers — **CLOSED AND LOCKED**
- [ ] Tow rope and weak link — **CORRECT, ATTACHED**
- [ ] Wind and traffic — **CHECKED**
- [ ] Launch emergency plan — **BRIEFED ALOUD**
  <sub>State the plan for a rope break below 200 feet, between 200 feet and pattern altitude, and above pattern altitude, and the landing option for each.</sub>
- [ ] Wing runner and tow pilot — **READY, SIGNAL GIVEN**

## Rope Break Below 200 Feet (EMERGENCY)

*Tow rope breaks or tow is released below approximately 200 feet AGL*

> **WARNING:** Do not attempt a turn back to the runway from low altitude. Land ahead, accepting whatever is in front of the glider.
- [ ] Nose `MEMORY` — **LOWER TO APPROACH ATTITUDE**
- [ ] Tow release `MEMORY` — **PULL, TWICE**
- [ ] Spoilers `MEMORY` — **AS REQUIRED**
- [ ] Land straight ahead

## Rope Break At or Above Pattern Altitude (ABNORMAL)

*Tow failure with sufficient height to fly a pattern*

- [ ] Tow release `MEMORY` — **PULL, TWICE**
- [ ] Airspeed — **ESTABLISH BEST GLIDE**
- [ ] Landing area — **SELECTED**
- [ ] Pattern — **FLOWN, ADJUSTED FOR HEIGHT**
> **GO TO:** Continue with the normal approach and landing checklist.

## Approach and Landing

- [ ] Straps — **TIGHT**
- [ ] Landing area — **CONFIRMED CLEAR**
- [ ] Airspeed — **APPROACH SPEED SET FOR CONDITIONS**
- [ ] Spoilers — **USED TO CONTROL GLIDE PATH**
> **NOTE:** Plan to land long rather than short. Undershooting is not recoverable in a glider.

## After Landing

- [ ] Maintain wings level with aileron until the glider stops
- [ ] Spoilers — **OPEN**
- [ ] Canopy — **AS REQUIRED**
- [ ] Clear the runway and report clear

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NOT FOR FLIGHT — source fidelity: not_applicable | operational review: none | completeness: partial | 1 unresolved safety defect(s)  
Source: authored — no source document  
Rights: original_expression CC-BY-4.0  
Checklist hash: 5afe01fd8549bcfcf8b46b64dc02d841954b06c295936b228a03151bd157ca2f  
Verify against the aircraft's own approved documentation before use.