What does an increase in tension cause when an aircraft engages the E-5?

When an aircraft engages the E-5, an increase in tension is primarily associated with the function of shear pins. Shear pins are designed to provide a safety measure; they are intended to break or shear off under specific loads to prevent damage to more critical components of the aircraft's systems. In this context, when the tension increases beyond a certain threshold, it indicates that there may be too much strain on the mechanism, prompting the shear pins to break. This designed failure protects the integrity of the equipment by ensuring that the overload does not lead to more severe consequences, such as damage to structural components or other systems.

Understanding this mechanism is crucial in aircraft operations, as it ties directly into the safety protocols that are built into the design and operation of aircraft systems.