Incident Overview
On 30 July 2017, a student pilot was conducting thermal soaring flights (task SPL/V-4) in a SZD-51-1 Junior glider at Łódź-Lublinek airport (EPLL). The wind for landing was moderate from the south, resulting in a tail-crosswind from the right relative to the landing direction.
Sequence of Events
During the second flight, around 13:58 LMT, the pilot approached to land on grass runway 07R. During the landing roll, the glider veered to the right. The pilot's abrupt control input caused the left wing to strike the grass surface, leading the glider to yaw approximately 90° from the runway axis. A subsequent control input brought the right wing into contact with the ground. In this configuration, the glider's tail struck the ground, resulting in a rotation (ground loop) and the glider coming to rest facing opposite to the landing direction.
Damage
Post-incident inspection revealed whitening (delamination) of the laminate along the front of the right wing spar. No other damage was reported.
Pilot Information
The student pilot was 34 years old with a total flight experience of 41 hours. In the 2017 season, he had logged 8 hours 50 minutes, and in the seven days preceding the incident, he had completed 9 flights totaling 5 hours 45 minutes in the Junior glider.
Findings
The cause of the incident was errors in piloting technique during landing with a tail-crosswind. A contributing factor was the student pilot's limited experience in landing under such wind conditions.
Safety Actions
The operator that investigated the incident decided to discuss the situation with pilots and students, conduct remedial instruction flights with the student involved, and place additional emphasis during training on landing with tailwinds and crosswinds. The investigating body did not issue any safety recommendations.