What happened
On September 13, 2018, a student pilot was conducting their first flight in a new aircraft type, an SZD-51-1 Junior glider. The flight, which utilized a winch launch, proceeded normally through the circuit pattern and the approach to landing.
During the flare phase, at an altitude of approximately 1 meter, the aircraft encountered a wave-like motion (buffeting/oscillation), which resulted in a hard landing. Following the incident, an inspection of the glider revealed damage to the tailwheel.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the operator, examined the sequence of events leading to the touchdown. The investigation focused on the flight characteristics during the final moments of the landing approach and the physical state of the aircraft following the impact.