What happened
On June 9, 2023, a Schempp-Hirth Nimbus 3 DM self-launching glider was performing a takeoff from runway 05 at the Dahlemer Binz airfield. The flight was intended to be a long-duration glider flight, with the pilot and a flight instructor (acting as a passenger) on board.
Shortly after takeoff, while the aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 40 to 50 meters, the engine power decreased significantly, preventing further climb. Due to the extensive forested areas located to the east of the airfield, the pilot attempted an emergency landing on the airfield grounds.
As the pilot turned left toward the glider operations area near the threshold of runway 23, the left wingtip struck the ground. This impact caused the aircraft to rotate left and slide approximately 87 meters toward a heading of 350°. During the slide, the fuselage broke behind the engine compartment, and the aircraft came to a halt 5.6 meters from a winch launch cable. The pilot sustained severe injuries, and the aircraft was severely damaged.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage and the engine components. The investigation noted that a previous takeoff attempt had been aborted due to similar power loss issues. At that time, the pilot suspected vapor lock in the fuel system, and a subsequent ground run had shown the engine functioning normally.
Physical inspection of the Schem_pp-Hirth Nimbus 3 DM revealed that the rear fuselage had buckled, and various composite fragments, including the horizontal stabilizer and the left wing's support wheel, were found along the slide path. The left wingtip showed delamination, and the ailerons and flaps were damaged or displaced. The engine itself, a Solo 2625 2-cylinder unit, showed no obvious abnormalities upon inspection, and fuel was present in both carburetors.