Accident Overview
On May 4, 2013, at about 1050 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A glider, registration N2045T, operated by the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), was substantially damaged when it struck trees and terrain near Erwinna, Pennsylvania. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The maintenance test flight, conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, originated from Vansant Airport (9N1) in Erwinna at approximately 1045.
Tow Plane Pilot's Account
According to the tow plane pilot, the glider pilot intended to practice stalls after being towed to an altitude of 3,000 feet mean sea level. Following takeoff from runway 07, the tow plane pilot observed the glider yaw to the left, then right, and left again. For most of the flight, the glider appeared to be above the normal tow position, with its nose pointed 45 degrees to the right. At about 400 feet above ground level, the glider pilot released the tow line and made a left turn. The tow plane pilot watched as the glider turned approximately 180 degrees, then impacted trees with its right wing, pitched down, and struck the terrain.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the rudder controls were rigged backwards. The two-seat glider, manufactured in 1977, had its most recent annual inspection completed on May 1, 2013, at which time it had accumulated 13,626 total hours. According to the mechanic who performed the annual inspection, the glider had been scheduled for a total restoration in the fall of 2012, but due to lack of funding, the restoration did not occur, and the disassembled glider sat on a trailer through the winter. During the spring of 2013, the glider was reassembled and the annual inspection was performed. The rudder had been removed at an earlier date due to previous damage, repaired, and reinstalled prior to the annual inspection.
Pilot Information
FAA records indicate the pilot held commercial pilot and flight instructor certificates with ratings for airplane single-engine land, instrument airplane, and glider. His most recent FAA second-class medical certificate was issued on August 30, 2011. As of April 15, 2013, the pilot reported 13,290 total hours of flight experience, of which 8,960 hours were in gliders. The pilot was critically injured and was unable to provide information about the accident.
Maintenance and Inspection Details
The flight was the first flight following the most recent annual inspection. A mechanic performed a flight control check after the inspection. According to the mechanic, he stood at the rear of the glider and held the rudder while another pilot sat in the cockpit and moved the pedals. The mechanic could not see which pedal the pilot was pushing and did not verbally confirm the position of the pedals. The Schweizer 2-33 Sailplane Flight-Erection-Maintenance manual preflight inspection checklist includes inspecting the condition, operation, and security of attachment of the rudder and other components, as well as signs of failure.