A BANNER TOW PLT RPTS THAT HIS BANNER BRIDLE BROKE TWICE; DROPPING HIS BANNER ONTO A FREEWAY AND INTO SOME TALL TREES.

Narrative

IN BOTH INCIDENTS; THE BRIDLE PORTION OF THE TOW ROPE BROKE. THE BRIDLE IS A LOOP ATTACHED TO THE PICKUP END OF THE TOW ROPE. IN BOTH CASES THE ROPE WAS NEW AND WAS RATED AS 1300 LB BREAKING STRENGTH. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE; THE ROPE BROKE AFTER 1/2 HR OF FLT. THE BANNER CAME DOWN ON THE 4 NBOUND LANES OF I471 APPROX 1 MI S OF THE OHIO RIVER. THERE WAS A BREAK IN TFC WHEN THE BANNER CONTACTED THE ROAD AND THERE WERE NO KNOWN TFC INCIDENTS. A MOTORIST REMOVED THE BANNER TO THE ROADSIDE. TFC MAY HAVE BEEN DELAYED SEVERAL MINS. THE BANNER WAS RECOVERED BUT NOT THE ROPE. ON SUNDAY; THE BRIDLE BROKE WITH 2 ROPES JUST AFTER REACHING 1000 FT AGL. THIS TIME THE BANNER CAME DOWN INTO SOME TALL TREES (APPROX 100 FT TREES). THIS IS A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE NEAREST HOUSE WAS PERHAPS 100 FT AWAY. IN BOTH CASES; THE PICKUP HOOK AND CABLE REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE AIRPLANE. THE BRIDLE FROM THIS INCIDENT IS BEING TESTED TO SEE IF IT HAS A 1300 LB BREAKING STRENGTH AND THE OWNER OF THE TOWING SVC PLANS TO QUESTION THE BANNER MAKER TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY IDEAS ON A CAUSE.