What happened
On May 24, 2010, a pilot initiated a winch launch for a local flight at the Koblenz-Winningen airfield. This was the fourth takeoff of the day for the pilot. Shortly after the takeoff roll, witnesses observed the Alexander Schleicher ASW 19 enter a steep climb. During this maneuver, the aircraft rolled to the left, causing the left wingtip to strike the ground. The impact caused the aircraft to skid approximately 25 meters across the asphalt runway and into the safety strip. The aircraft was destroyed, and the pilot sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage and the circumstances surrounding the takeoff. The investigation noted that the aircraft's weight and center of gravity were within permissible limits, and the annual inspection had been completed earlier that year. Investigators also reviewed the condition of the cockpit equipment, noting that a radio unit had shifted approximately 8 cm out of its mount because the securing latch was not closed. The investigation focused on the flight path and the physical damage to the airframe, which included a broken fuselage, a broken horizontal stabilizer attachment, and multiple fractures to the left wing.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a sudden roll to the left during a steep climb immediately following the takeoff roll.
- The left wingtip made contact with the ground, leading to the destruction of the airframe.
- No technical defects were identified in the aircraft's primary structures during the wreckage examination.
- A radio unit in the cockpit was found unsecured, having slipped from its mounting due to an unclosed locking mechanism.