What happened
On July 15, 2014, at 09:39 UTC, a Phoebus B1 glider was performing a takeoff from Michałków aerodrome as part of a regional gliding competition. The aircraft was being towed behind another aircraft. Approximately 100 meters into the takeoff roll, the main landing gear retracted into the fuselage.
Unable to immediately release the towline due to the gear position, the pilot climbed to an altitude of approximately 15 meters and attempted to extend the landing gear again. Once the gear successfully deployed, the pilot was able to release the towline. The flight concluded with a landing within the airport boundaries, during which the landing gear retracted a second time. The aircraft sustained minor damage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the mechanical state of the aircraft following the incident. During a technical inspection conducted by a glider maintenance facility, it was determined that the landing gear lever lock, intended to hold the gear in the extended position, was functioning correctly.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the pilot's failure to properly lock the landing gear lever in the extended position prior to takeoff.
Safety action
Following the incident, the competition organizers addressed the event during the pre-flight briefing the following day. Pilots operating gliders with retractable landing gear were reminded of the necessity to verify that the gear lever is securely locked in the extended position before commencing takeoff.