On October 11, 2003, an Avions Pierre Robin DR 400/180R was involved in an aviation accident near Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler (EDRA), DE. This summary draws on records from the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU).
On 11 October 2003, a DR 400/180R glider tow aircraft at Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler (EDRA) struck two pedestrians with its tow rope during landing. One person was seriously injured and one lightly injured; the aircraft was not damaged.
Overview and immediate events On 11 October 2003, a single-engine Avions Pierre Robin DR 400/180R tow aircraft departed the special landing site Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler (EDRA) at 16:52 local time, towing an ASK21 glider. After releasing the glider at approximately 2,000 ft, the pilot returned to the airfield. During the approach to runway 29, the pilot reduced speed, set flaps, and activated the electric tow-rope retraction switch. The switch engaged and its indicator light illuminated. Later, in the final approach, the switch returned to its off position and the light went out, which the pilot interpreted as the rope having been retracted. In fact, the rope remained deployed behind the aircraft. ## Ground warning and impact While the aircraft was in the traffic pattern, normal radio communications took place with airfield personnel. Just before the aircraft reached the airfield, a ground observer in the glider start position saw the rope hanging and warned the pilot over the radio that the rope was still outside. The approach continued without an apparent change. At the same time, two pedestrians were on a service path outside the airfield, below the final approach area of runway 29. They had just crossed the extended centerline of the asphalt runway when the hanging tow rope struck them. The rope broke and remained on the rising grass slope toward the airfield, with a length of 47.80 m, at 16:58. ## Aircraft landing and injuries The pilot reported several jerks before touchdown and landed shortly beyond the threshold of runway 29 asphalt. After parking, the pilot found that the rope had broken and went to the eastern end of the airfield to inspect the area. Both pedestrians sustained abrasions; one also suffered a lower-leg fracture. The aircraft was not damaged, and there was no third-party damage. ## Aircraft and equipment The DR 400/180R, serial number 2012, was a 1991 four-seat low-wing wooden aircraft powered by a 180 hp Lycoming O-360-A3A engine. It was equipped with a tow-rope retraction system (Feuerstein system) installed in 1991. The system used an electric winch to retract a 50 m tow rope in flight. The operating instructions described a red indicator light in the push-button switch and automatic shut-off after the weak link reached its breaking point. The instructions also noted that knots in the rope could prevent full retraction and cause automatic shut-off. If the rope was not fully retracted, the instructions allowed landing with the rope if runway length was sufficient, and cutting the rope only in emergencies or when obstacles were present. ## Missing mirror and procedural issues The installation instructions for the tow system required a mirror on the left wing to observe rope retraction. The mirror was listed in the installation description, drawings, and parts list, but it had never been fitted. Its absence was not noted during inspections, including the last annual inspection on 13 June 2003. The aircraft flight manual contained entries referring to the mirror and to flight-readiness checks, with later-added exclamation marks at those points. No operating procedures had been adapted to the missing mirror. A separate mirror on the cabin roof was intended for observing the towed glider. ## Pilot and weather The 47-year-old pilot held a valid PPL-A license first obtained in 2001, with a tow rating added in June 2003. His medical certificate was valid for Class III without limitations. His total flight time was 370 hours, including 56 hours in the DR400/180R. He had 197 landings in the type, with 31 in the previous 90 days. No data were available on the number of flights as a tow pilot. Weather at the time included wind from 300–330° at 10–12 kt, 6/8 cloud at 3,200 ft, and good visibility above 10 km. ## Airfield and warning signs The special landing site had an 800 m grass runway in the north and a 500 m asphalt runway in the south. The landing was made on runway 29, aligned 286° magnetic. A service path surrounded the airfield and was open to pedestrians and agricultural vehicles. At the eastern end, the path ran for about 110 m beneath the final approach paths of runway 29, 85–95 m from the thresholds. This section was not visible from the tower or the glider start position. Two warning signs reading “Anflugzone freihalten, LEBENSGEFAHR” were placed on the airfield property at the fence, but their lettering was nearly faded and they faced away from the airfield. After the accident, new signs were installed on the path section, and the required left-wing mirror was fitted to the aircraft.