Incident Summary
On 7 May 2023, a serious incident occurred involving a PZL KR-3 Puchatek glider, registration SP-3555, at the Piła airfield (EPPI) in Poland. The glider, operating on a training flight, was being flown by a student pilot. The flight was part of a series of glider launches using an auto-tow system.
Sequence of Events
The student pilot released the tow cable at an altitude of 320 meters and entered a right-hand traffic pattern for runway 03. While flying between the third and fourth turns, the pilot reported via radio that she had encountered an area of rising air, which required a greater use of airbrakes than during previous flights that day.
During the landing phase, the pilot executed a flare that was too high, approximately 1 meter above the ground. During the subsequent hold-off, she abruptly pulled the control stick back. This caused the tail skid to strike the ground first, followed by a hard touchdown on the main wheel and front skid. The glider then tilted onto its left wing, and the wing tip struck the ground. The pilot managed to level the wings, and the remainder of the ground roll proceeded normally.
Damage and Injuries
The glider sustained damage to the front skid and the tip of the left wing. The student pilot did not suffer any injuries.
Cause
The Polish State Commission on Aircraft Accident Investigation determined that the cause of the incident was an error in landing technique. Specifically, the pilot executed a flare that was too high and then applied an excessively abrupt pull on the control stick during the hold-off.
Contributing Factors
As a contributing factor, the commission noted that the student pilot likely experienced additional stress due to encountering the area of rising air while flying the traffic pattern.
Preventive Actions
Following the incident, the investigating entity implemented several preventive measures: the event was discussed with the student pilot; it was reviewed at a Safety Management System meeting; and it was scheduled to be included in an annual safety conference and described in a safety bulletin.