Rutgers University
  • Missing Rudder Mystery

    Posted on September 20th, 2018 Karolina Zbaski No comments

    RU29 ran into trouble today with the loss of his key piloting point. Initial contact increased glider’s buoyancy with a sharp upward pitch and an extreme port roll. Second contact changed glider’s roll to extreme starboard. Team speculates rudder was eventually lost at the end of second encounter at around 100 meters and surfaced with the help of pump and thruster. No large vessels were reported in area that could have interfered, however, fishing activity seems to be the likely culprit. Test dives followed at 10, 60, then 100 meters. Everything is working fine and roll is back to only a few degrees which means we did not lose glider wings.