What happened
On April 22, 2019, a student pilot was performing a winch-assisted takeoff at the Leck airfield in Germany. The flight began normally, but at an altitude of approximately 100 meters, the winch cable snapped. Witnesses observed the Rolladen-Schneider LS 7-WL continuing in a climbing attitude before transitioning into level flight. Although the pilot successfully released the remaining cable fragment, the aircraft subsequently entered an uncontrolled state, banking over the right wing and descending in a spin-like motion into the ground.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage, the winch equipment, and the pilot's training records. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's center of gravity was within the permissible range and that the winch cable's designated breaking point had functioned as intended. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight logs, which revealed a long training period spanning several years with a high number of instructors and inconsistent documentation of progress.
Findings
The primary cause of the accident was the aircraft entering an uncontrolled flight state following the cable break. The pilot failed to implement the necessary emergency procedures, such as applying immediate nose-down pressure to maintain airspeed. The investigation concluded that the pilot was likely overwhelmed by the situation.
Several contributing factors were identified:
- The pilot had limited experience specifically with the LS 7-WL model.
- There had been no recent training regarding winch launch interruptions.
- Periodic cable-break practice sessions had not been conducted since the pilot's first solo flight.
- Inconsistent training documentation and a lack of oversight regarding the pilot's proficiency in emergency maneuvers.