What happened
On July 9, 2017, a pilot was conducting a training flight in an SZD-48-3 Jantar Std 3 glider. Around 16:00 local time, thermal lift began to dissipate, making it impossible for the pilot to complete the planned cross-country flight. Consequently, the pilot decided to perform an off-field landing in an unprepared area near Gójsk, Sierpc county.
The pilot selected a suitable landing site and executed the approach. However, during the initial phase of the landing roll, the aircraft's landing gear retracted. As the glider continued its roll, the underside of the fuselage struck an uneven patch of ground. This impact caused structural damage to the lower fuselage near the cockpit ventilation air intake. The pilot sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the operator, examined the sequence of events leading to the landing gear failure and the conditions at the landing site. The inquiry focused on the mechanical state of the landing gear lever and the environmental factors present during the landing.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the improper locking of the landing gear control lever, which allowed the gear to retract after the aircraft had touched down.
- The impact of the fuselage against the uneven terrain directly caused the structural damage.
- Several contributing factors were identified, including the stress associated with performing an unplanned field landing and pilot fatigue resulting from a long-duration flight.
- The presence of thick, tall grass at the landing site hindered the pilot's ability to accurately assess the ground surface from the air.