What happened
On October 12, 2024, at Elbląg Airport (EPEL), simultaneous glider winch launches and skydiving operations were being conducted. A Turbo Finist aircraft, registration HA-YDM, was positioned on the aerodrome near the intersection of runways, awaiting its sixth flight to transport skydivers. During this period, a SZD-50-3 Puchacz glider, registration SP-3253, commenced a winch launch.
While the takeoff initially proceeded normally, the glider released from the cable, causing the winch line to fall onto the nose of the stationary aircraft. The cable subsequently became entangled around the aircraft's rotating propeller. The pilot of the Turbo Finist immediately shut down the engine, and the winch operator ceased reeling. The glider completed a circuit and landed safely. The aircraft sustained minor damage, and there were no injuries to any personnel.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the coordination between the skydiving and glider operations, the positioning of the aircraft on the aerodrome, and the meteorological conditions present during the launch. The investigation focused on the lack of communication between the different flight sections and the impact of wind on the trajectory of the winch cable.
Findings
Several contributing factors led to the incident:
- The aircraft was parked in an inappropriate location relative to the active winch launch path and the prevailing wind conditions.
- Crosswinds during the launch likely caused the glider to drift and influenced the path of the cable after release.
- There was a lack of a flight director to manage the simultaneous activities and a failure by the instructor to warn the winch operator of the potential danger.
- There was a lack of operational coordination and traffic agreements between the skydiving and glider sections.
- The glider pilot may not have sufficiently accounted for the potential deviation in flight trajectory and cable path caused by the crosswind.
Safety action
To prevent recurrence, the following measures were accepted:
- The organizer of flight activities at EPEL will utilize a flight director whenever multiple types of aviation activities are occurring simultaneously or when high traffic volume requires it.
- The organizer will implement mandatory safety briefings prior to flight days to discuss planned operations.
- Safety training for personnel will include procedures for maneuvering on the aerodrome.
- Additional training will be provided for glider pilots and winch operators regarding the specific challenges of performing launches in crosswind conditions.