What happened
On 7 September 2021, a DG500 ELAN TRAINER, registration F-CILE, was performing a winch takeoff from a grass runway at Saint-Sulpice-des-Landes. The flight was part of an instructor trainer supervision course, with a student pilot in the front seat and a pilot undergoing flight instructor training in the rear seat.
During the takeoff roll, a wing runner attempted to keep the left wing level by running alongside the aircraft. Approximately 10 meters after the runner released the wing, the left wing dropped and touched the ground while the aircraft was traveling at roughly 60 km/h. The pilot immediately released the winch cable and applied right-hand control inputs, braking, and airbrake extension to correct the deviation. Despite these efforts, the glider continued to veer left, causing the landing gear to skid on the runway. The aircraft exited the left side of the runway and the left wing struck a post of the aerodrome's perimeter fence, resulting in substantial damage to the wing's leading edge.
The investigation
The BEA examined the flight sequence, meteorological conditions, and pilot actions. Investigators noted that the wind at the time was from 110° at 12 to 20 km/h, with gusts up to 30 km/h. The investigation also reviewed the training context, noting that while the instructor trainer was unaware of recent regulatory changes regarding the specific flight configuration used, this did not contribute to the accident.
Findings
- The left wing touched the ground due to insufficient aileron input to counter a wind gust blowing from the right.
- The pilot's immediate release of the cable prevented a more violent ground loop or a cartwheel accident.
- The proximity of the perimeter fence to the left edge of the runway, combined with the aircraft's speed, made it impossible to avoid the collision once the wing had dropped.