What happened
On March 4, 2018, a QR-15P Larus glider, registration PP-ZQR, was performing a local flight test near Osório, Rio Grande do Sul. The flight began with a tow takeoff from the Osório Aerodrome. After approximately sixteen minutes of flight at an altitude of 900 meters, the glider was released from the tow aircraft.
Following release, the glider performed a gentle left turn and crossed the runway. It then entered a right-hand turn with a slight bank and a low rate of descent. However, after completing roughly 270 degrees of the turn, the aircraft's bank angle, rate of descent, and airspeed increased sharply. The glider entered a descending spiral, with the intensity of the maneuver increasing through subsequent turns. After completing two full 360-degree loops, the aircraft entered an inverted position and collided with the ground. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and the fatal injuries of the pilot.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators established that the flight was intended as a test mission to evaluate the aircraft's characteristics, as the operator planned to begin series production following certification. The pilot, while experienced in glider flight, was not legally qualified for the mission because his glider pilot rating had expired in January 201 and he lacked recent experience as required by Brazilian civil aviation regulations.
Investigators also noted that the pilot had received less than seven hours of rest following a flight that landed in Porto Alegre in the early morning hours of the same day. Furthermore, the pilot had not been provided with the aircraft manual for preliminary study prior to the flight. Regarding the aircraft, while the flight authorization was valid, the airframe logbooks were not up to date, and weight and balance documentation was not available for review.
Findings
- The pilot's glider pilot rating had been expired since January 2018.
- The pilot had experienced insufficient rest (less than seven hours) prior to the flight.
- The pilot had no prior knowledge of the specific aircraft characteristics and had not received the manual for study.
- The aircraft'frame logbooks were not updated.
- No radio communication was established between the pilot and the tow aircraft or ground personnel from the moment of release until the impact.