What happened
On April 26, 2015, a SZD-50.3 Puchacz glider was conducting training flights and an annual Pilot Flight Technique Check (KTP) at the Radom Piastów aerodrome (EPRP). The crew consisted of an instructor with 2,530 flight hours and a trainee pilot with 88 flight hours.
During the landing sequence, the pilot deployed the aerodynamic brakes and maintained the approach, adjusting altitude until the flare. The aircraft touched down approximately 50 meters before the lower runway limit with a slight traverse. Upon touchdown, the main landing gear entered a rut hidden by overgrown grass, which caused a sudden loss of speed and a violent downward movement of the nose wheel. The glider continued its rollout for approximately 100 meters before coming to a stop.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's condition following the landing. Post-flight inspection revealed that a covering had detached where the right trim weight is mounted. Upon further disassembly of the aircraft, investigators discovered a crack in the half-spar at the control stick height. The aircraft was subsequently removed from service for repairs.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the landing before the lower runway limit with a slight traverse, which, when combined with the uneven terrain (the hidden rut), generated enough force to crack the half-spar.
- A contributing factor was the delayed reaction of the instructor to errors made by the trainee pilot during the landing phase.