What happened
On August 19, 2018, at the Toru and Aeroklub Pomorski aerodrome (EPTO), a student pilot was conducting training flights using both winch and aero-tow methods. The student, who had approximately 33 hours of total flight time, had previously completed several training flights in an SZD-50-3 Puchacz. Following a briefing on the flight characteristics of the SZD-51-1 Junior, the student performed an initial flight in the aircraft, which was followed by instructor feedback regarding the excessive use of air brakes during the landing approach.
During a subsequent flight at 16:23 LMT, the flight proceeded normally until the landing phase. While attempting to maintain level flight during the flare, the pilot applied the air brakes too aggressively. This caused the glider to stall, leading to a hard landing with a bounce.
The investigation
The accident was reported to the PKBWL in September 2018 after the aeroclub's technical chief discovered damage during a routine pre-flight inspection. The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing maneuver and the physical damage sustained by the aircraft. The inspection revealed a crack in the fuselage near the front skid and the launch hook.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the improper use of the air brake lever during the landing phase.
- The aggressive deployment of the air brakes led to a loss of airspeed and a subsequent stall during the flare.