What happened
On 13 July 2022, a SZD-30 Pirat sailplane, registration SP-3012, was involved in a serious incident during a training session at EPRU. The pilot, who had limited flight experience, was performing winch take-offs intended to practice landing techniques. During the third aerodrome circuit, the pilot executed additional turns between the downwind and base legs. These maneuvers drifted the aircraft away from the designated landing area and resulted in a flat approach characterized by excessive speed.
As the aircraft touched down, the airbrakes remained retracted. The excess kinetic energy caused the glider to bounce off the grassy runway. In an attempt to correct the situation, the pilot rapidly deployed the airbrakes, which caused a sudden decrease in speed and a sharp drop, leading to a hard landing with an excessive sink rate. The impact caused the landing gear to collapse and resulted in structural damage to the fuselage around the landing gear mount. The aircraft was subsequently deemed repairable. The pilot sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of maneuvers during the circuit and the pilot's subsequent reactions to the aircraft's behavior during the landing phase. The commission examined the pilot's flight experience, specifically noting the low number of total flight hours and limited time on the specific aircraft type. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's response to the flight director and the timing of airbrake deployment.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was pilot error, specifically the execution of a flat approach and touchdown at an excessive speed, which led to the initial bounce.
- The pilot's rapid deployment of airbrakes following the bounce contributed to the hard landing.
- The pilot's low level of aviation experience and lack of familiarity with the SZD-30 Pirat were significant contributing factors.
- The decision to perform unnecessary turns during the aerodrome circuit and the late decision to proceed with the landing approach further destabilized the approach.
- The pilot failed to respond to the flight director's command to deploy airbrakes in a timely manner.
Safety action
Following the incident, the operator implemented several preventive measures. The pilot completed 10 take-offs under the supervision of an instructor prior to resuming solo flight. Additionally, the incident was reviewed within the aeroclub's pilot community to emphasize the importance of maintaining proper flight parameters and managing in-flight emergencies.