Event Description
On 14 October 2022, at Rudniki Airport (EPRU), a SZD-50-3 "Puchacz" glider, registration SP-3288, was being used for training flights practicing basic aerobatic figures. The glider had completed six flights that day: two solo and four dual (with an instructor and a student). The total flight time was 1 hour and 52 minutes. At 16:59 local time, during a routine cockpit check before the next takeoff, the student in the front cockpit noticed an abnormal position of the right rudder pedal. The pedal was hanging by its cable connections, completely separated from the central body mounted to the cockpit floor. The instructor confirmed the malfunction and stopped all flights. The glider was removed from service and taken to the hangar for diagnosis.
Investigation Findings
The investigation by the State Commission on Aircraft Accidents Investigation (PKBWL) determined that the right half-axle of the rudder pedal assembly, which serves as the suspension for the right pedal in the front cockpit, had fractured. The failure was due to progressive cracking (material fatigue) of the suspension axis, leading to its breakage and the pedal's detachment from the console.
The commission identified several contributing factors: a probable past accident that may have damaged the pedal suspension axis; a lack of precise guidelines for inspecting pedal condition during scheduled maintenance (specifically the 1000-hour inspection); significant wear of the glider due to extensive use; and the character of the acrobatic flights performed, which involved decisive control inputs.
Conclusion
The cause of the serious incident was the progressive cracking of the rudder pedal suspension axis from material fatigue. No safety recommendations were proposed by the commission.