What happened
On January 26, 2017, during a scheduled maintenance procedure at the Aeroklub Lubelski airfield in Radawiec, a structural defect was identified on an SZD-41A glider. While the crew was in the process of removing the rudder, they discovered that a portion of the plywood lower rudder suspension console on the fuselage had broken off, along with the associated pin.
The investigation
The investigation examined the usage history of the aircraft, noting that the glider had completed 905 takeoff and landing cycles with a total flight time of 1,947 hours. An analysis of the aircraft's recent handling revealed that the damage occurred while the glider was being removed from its transport trolley. The investigation established that the rear part of the fuselage struck the ground during this maneuvering process.
Findings
- The primary cause of the damage was unintentional and careless handling of the aircraft during ground operations.
- The impact between the fuselage and the ground during removal from the transport trolley resulted in the breakage of the rudder suspension console and the loss of the mounting pin.