Incident Overview
On 25 June 2017, a student pilot flying an SZD-50-3 Puchacz glider was involved in an incident at EPDE airfield. The pilot was performing her fifth solo flight under task SPL/II-8. The flight progressed normally until the landing phase.
Sequence of Events
During the approach for landing, the student pilot had the airbrakes slightly open. As she flared for landing, she opened the airbrakes further, which caused the glider to lose lift and drop abruptly. This resulted in a hard landing.
Damage
The hard landing caused damage to the glider's main landing gear and its rear laminate cover. The extent of the damage was limited to these components.
Cause
The investigation determined the cause of the incident was pilot error, specifically the improper use of the airbrakes. The student pilot opened the airbrakes too much during the landing flare, leading to an unintended descent.
Contributing Factors
The student pilot's limited experience was identified as a contributing circumstance. She had accumulated only a few solo flights at the time of the incident.
Safety Recommendations
No safety recommendations were issued by the investigating body.