What happened
On 15 July 2026, a SZD-48-3 Jantar Std. 3 glider with registration SP-3251 was being towed by a Moto-Hurt WS-02-JK aircraft at EPBC (Warsaw/Babice). During the ground roll, the towline became entangled in the glider's main landing gear wheel. The line jammed into the gear structure, causing the landing gear to retract automatically. The glider continued its takeoff roll on the lower fuselage. As the aircraft entered a gentle climb, the towplane cut the towline. The glider subsequently landed straight ahead at the airfield. No injuries were reported, but the glider sustained damage.
The investigation
The Polish State Commission for Aviation Accident Investigation (PKBWL) reviewed the findings of the investigating entity and deemed them sufficient to close the case. The analysis focused on the mechanical failure of the towline system and the operational response during the initial phase of the takeoff. Investigators examined the interaction between the towplane's powerplant instability and the glider's landing gear geometry.
Findings
The primary cause was identified as unstable operation of the towplane's powerplant, which caused a sudden drop in power followed by a sharp increase. This fluctuation created slack in the towline, allowing the glider's main wheel to roll onto it. The line wrapped around the gear lattice, forcing the gear to retract and jamming the release mechanism.
Contributing factors included:
- A leak in the towplane's exhaust manifold.
- Incorrect adjustment of the throttle and engine speed control linkages on the towplane.
- The towplane pilot's attempt to stabilize engine speed and continue the tow after a power fluctuation, rather than immediately cutting thrust during the early ground roll phase.
- The geometry of the SZD-48-3 gear bay, which facilitated line entanglement under sudden load.