What happened
On July 13, 2020, at Nowy Targ Airport (EPNT), a glider training session was underway involving a student pilot. Following a successful flight with an instructor, the student was cleared for solo operations. During the second solo flight, the student was being towed by an Aviat Husky A-1A (registration SP-OKO).
At approximately 14:50, the aircraft and glider began a right-hand two-turn pattern. As the towing pilot initiated a 180-degree turn to align the aircraft for the release, the student pilot in the SZD-50-3 Puchacz (registration SP-4015) failed to maintain proper turn coordination. This caused the glider to drift toward the inside of the turn and drop below the altitude of the towing aircraft.
As the turn concluded, the towing pilot experienced a significant loss of control and a decrease in airspeed. The pilot ordered the student to release the glider. Although the tow rope was released, the loss of airspeed caused the Aviat Husky A-1A to enter a left spin. The pilot managed to recover from the spin at an altitude of 150 meters and landed safely at the aerodrome. The student pilot followed instructions from the supervising instructor to perform a standard circuit and landed the glider safely.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the flight sequence and the aerodynamic interaction between the two aircraft. The investigation focused on the student pilot's handling of the glider during the turn and the physical limitations of the towing aircraft when subjected to the glider's displacement.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the incorrect position of the glider during the towed flight, which disrupted the flight trajectory and induced the spin in the towing aircraft.
- The student pilot's lack of experience contributed to the loss of coordination during the turn.
- The relatively low weight of the towing aircraft compared to the heavy glider made it difficult to maintain control when the glider drifted out of position.