What happened
On July 30, 2015, at approximately 06:00 LMT, a training flight was being conducted at Warsaw-Babice Airport (EPLE) using a SZD-50-3 Puchacz glider. The flight, involving an instructor and a student pilot, was performing a standard circuit using a winch launch from the grass runway oriented toward runway 28.
During the final phase of the launch, the winch cable snapped. The pilot successfully maintained airspeed and immediately released the cable. Following the break, the retrieval parachute deployed at an altitude of approximately 300 meters. Due to prevailing winds from the southwest (220–240 degrees) at speeds of 5–8 m/s, the cable and parachute were drifted toward the northern side of the grass runway.
The cable landed on hangars 4 and 5, as well as a perimeter fence separating the LPR (Lotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe) facility from Heli Invest. The cable also came to rest near two parked Cessna aircraft. The incident was noted by an LPR helicopter pilot who was preparing a helicopter for duty inside a hangar at the time.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the user's commission, focused on the circumstances surrounding the cable break and the subsequent drift of the retrieval system. The investigation confirmed that the pilot followed proper procedures by securing airspeed and releasing the cable immediately after the failure. The investigation also reviewed the wind conditions and the impact of the cable on airport infrastructure and parked aircraft.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was strong southwesterly winds which drifted the cable and parachute onto hangars and the LPR apron.
- The mechanical failure of the winch cable during the final stage of the launch initiated the sequence of events.
- There were no injuries to any personnel involved in the incident.