What happened
On August 26, 2017, during the 45th Polish Junior Gliding Championships at the Grudziądz-Lisie Kąty (EPGI) aerodrome, an SZD-51-1 Junior glider was performing a winch launch. The takeoff was conducted on the northern side of the runway, heading 310°.
During the initial takeoff roll, the tip of the right wing made contact with the ground, causing the aircraft to deviate approximately 20° from its intended takeoff axis. The pilot did not immediately release the winch cable following this contact. As the takeoff roll continued, the right wingtip became obstructed by tall grass located on an unutilized area of the airfield. Upon lifting off at a low altitude, the glider underwent a significant yaw of approximately 70-80° to the right. The pilot eventually released the winch cable while the right wing remained on the ground and the main wheel was airborne. The aircraft subsequently landed and came to a stop, rotated approximately 150-160° from its original takeoff heading.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of events during the takeoff roll and the aircraft's physical condition following the incident. The inspection revealed structural damage to the fuselage just behind the trailing edge of the right wing, damage to the left side of the tail boom, and damage to the fuselage spine above the spar. The pilot was tested for alcohol by police, yielding a negative result. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight experience, noting a total of 178 hours of flight time, with only eight winch launches performed in the preceding 24 months.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the contact between the right wingtip and the ground during the takeoff roll.
- A significant contributing factor was the pilot's failure to release the winch cable immediately after the initial wingtip strike.
- The pilot's limited experience with the winch launch method contributed to the delayed reaction and late cable release.
- The presence of tall grass on the unutilized portion of the airfield further impeded the aircraft's movement.