What happened
On August 19, 2022, an instructor and a student were performing a "hangar flight" (a low-altitude maneuver used to return an aircraft to a hangar) at the EPPR aerodrome in Pruszcz Gdański. While performing the approach to landing, the crew deviated from the designated grass runway. At an altitude of approximately 3.5 meters AGL, the SZD-9 bis Bocian 1E glider, registration SP-3099, struck a windsock mast with its left wing. The impact caused damage to the wing area near the airbrake box. The glider landed safely without further incident, and there were no injuries to the crew.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the flight path and the environmental conditions during the final approach. The investigation established that the descent occurred in an area not intended for landing approaches, at an altitude insufficient to clear ground obstacles.
Findings
- The primary cause of the event was the descent of the glider in an unplanned location at an altitude that did not provide enough clearance over terrain obstacles.
- Visibility from the cockpit was limited due to the aircraft flying directly into the sun.
- The crew's desire to conclude the flight quickly due to external factors contributed to the incident.
- The pilot's intent to simplify the process of maneuvering the glider into the hangar influenced the flight path.
Safety action
Following the incident, the operator implemented several preventive measures:
- Hangar flights at the aero club have been suspended until a specific instruction manual for performing such maneuvers, including standardized landing approach procedures, is developed.
- The safety manager conducted a review of the event with flight instructors to reinforce proper procedures and the correct methods for reporting aviation incidents.