What happened
On 8 April 2018, at approximately 17:31 local time, a student pilot was performing a training flight at Farkashegy airfield. The aircraft, a PW-5 "Smyk" with registration HA-4070, was undergoing a winch launch. During the initial phase of the launch, the glider climbed at a steep angle before entering a left bank and losing altitude at a height of approximately 20 to 25 meters. The left wing subsequently collided with a tree, causing the aircraft to crash into an area heavily covered by trees and bushes near the runway. The student pilot escaped the 0 fatalities and 0 injuries accident without physical harm, though the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The Hungarian Transportation Safety Bureau (ITM-TSB) examined several factors, including the pilot's training records, meteorological data, and the aircraft's technical characteristics. The investigation reviewed the morning briefing, which had noted strong winds, and noted that the student pilot had previously performed training circuits in a different aircraft that same day. The investigators also analyzed the training organization's management system and the specific flight characteristics of the PW-5 model during winch operations.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the student pilot losing control of the aircraft during the initial phase of the winch launch.
- The pilot possessed the required certification but lacked sufficient experience for the specific flight task.
- Adverse weather conditions, specifically wind speeds of 7 m/s with gusts up to 11 m/s, contributed to the event.
- The inherent aerodynamic characteristics of the PW-5 model made it prone to stalling during winch launches.
- The flight instructors' judgment regarding the suitability of the flight under such weather conditions was a contributing factor.
- The training organization's manuals lacked specific wind speed limitations for student pilots.
Safety action
The investigation committee proposed a safety recommendation to the manufacturer, Zakład Szybowcowy „Jeżów”, suggesting that the Flight Manual for the PW-5 should state that winch launching is not recommended during transition training for student pilots to mitigate the risk of stalling.