What happened
On June 28, 2011, a winch-assisted takeoff was underway at the Hamburg-Boberg glider airfield. As the K 8B glider began its takeoff roll on runway 12, the right wing made contact with the ground, causing the aircraft to veer to the right. The takeoff director immediately ordered an aborted takeoff, and the winch operator reported braking the cable.
Despite the initial abort command, the glider subsequently lifted off, and an instruction was given to continue the winch tow. During this phase, the tow cable disconnected from the glider's release mechanism. Following the loss of tension, the aircraft rolled over onto its right wing. The glider descended from a height of approximately 10 to 15 meters, impacting the ground just south of the runway. The right wing struck the ground first, followed by the cockpit area. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the aircraft was heavily damaged.
The investigation
The BFU examined the sequence of events, the aircraft's condition, and the actions of the flight crew and ground personnel. The investigation focused on the loss of control during the takeoff roll and the subsequent disconnection of the tow cable. Physical inspection of the K 8B revealed that the right wing had broken near the flap box and the fuselage was deformed and bent near the cockpit area. No mechanical defects affecting the aircraft's controllability were identified.
Findings
- The aircraft veered to the right during the initial takeoff roll due to the right wing touching the ground.
- The pilot attempted to counteract the veer by applying left aileron and rudder inputs.
- The loss of tension in the tow cable caused the glider to lose airspeed, rendering the pilot's control inputs ineffective.
- The tow cable disconnected from the release mechanism during the flight sequence.