What happened
On July 19, 2013, a Stemme S 10-VT motor glider was completing its ninth landing of the day at EPRJ following a thermal flight. After touching down on a grass runway, the aircraft experienced a bounce. This bounce led to a second touchdown, during which the aircraft pitched forward onto its nose. This sequence caused the propeller to make contact with the ground, resulting in the delamination of one of the composite propeller blades.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of the landing maneuvers and the environmental conditions present during the touchdown. The inquiry focused on the pilot's control inputs during the bounce and the impact of wind conditions on the aircraft's stability during the final moments of the flight.