What happened
On Easter Monday, April 21, 2014, a Schempp-Hirth Janus C sailplane was performing a local flight at Weelde Airfield. The flight's objective was to practice an approach utilizing the aircraft's tail brake parachute. The crew, consisting of a pilot in command and a passenger, both experienced glider pilots, initiated the approach at a height of approximately 90m above ground level.
As the aircraft transitioned into final approach, the pilot activated the tail brake parachute mechanism. However, the parachute failed to deploy immediately. The aircraft continued its descent, and the parachute finally deployed when the sailplane was only about 50m above the ground. The sudden increase in drag caused a significant nose-down attitude. To avoid a stall, the pilot pushed the control stick forward, which ultimately prevented a proper flare. The aircraft subsequently struck the ground violently in a nose-down position, resulting in two injuries, including multiple vertebral fractures for the pilot.
The investigation
The AAIU(Be) investigation focused on the mechanics of the deployment and the crew's actions. Investigators found no evidence of mechanical defects or corrosion in the release system, though they noted that a mechanical lock or friction could have delayed the box's movement. The investigation also revealed that the pilot had experienced a similar delayed deployment during a solo flight just two weeks prior, but no formal analysis or corrective action had been taken following that event.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the late deployment of the brake parachute at a low altitude, which prevented the pilot from executing a proper flare.
- A contributing factor was poor airmanship, specifically the failure to learn from a previous similar incident and the lack of a thorough pre-flight briefing between the crew members.
- The investigation identified a lack of established procedures or guidelines regarding how to manage a malfunction of the tail brake chute system.
- The crew's decision-making was impacted by the lack of altitude margin during the approach.
Safety action
The investigation led to a recommendation for the Liga van Vlaamse Zweefvliegclubs (LVZC) to assess the necessity of tail brake parachute operations. If such operations continue, the authority should implement revised procedures, including specific guidelines for handling malfunctions, clearer definitions of crew roles during abnormal operations, and a mandatory pre-flight briefing requirement.