What happened
On May 9, 2008, at 16:20 local time, a Schleicher ASK 21 glider, registered F-CIRV, was completing its fourth flight of the day at the Fayence aerodrome. The pilot, performing a local flight, intended to land on runway 10L using a long landing technique. The objective of this maneuver was to position the aircraft as close to the hangars as possible to reduce the amount of ground handling required after landing.
Upon touchdown between runway 10L and runway 32, the pilot deployed the airbrakes while maintaining a relatively high speed to navigate a slight slope in the terrain. As the aircraft approached the hangar area, the pilot realized the glider was traveling too fast. In an attempt to correct the course, the pilot applied rudder inputs and braking. However, as the nose wheel made contact with the ground and the speed decreased, the pilot lost directional control. The glider subsequently collided with another glider that was parked near the hangars. The collision resulted in damage to both aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing roll and the mechanical state of the aircraft. Investigators examined the braking system of the Schleicher ASK 21 and determined that no mechanical failure contributed to the incident. The investigation confirmed that the brakes were functioning correctly, as the braking action is triggered by pulling the airbrake lever fully back.
Findings
- The primary cause of the collision was the marginal use of the aerodrome layout to minimize ground maneuvering.
- The pilot's decision to perform a long landing at high speed to reach the parking area closely contributed to the loss of control.
- The loss of directional control occurred because the aircraft became unsteerable once the nose wheel made contact with the ground while the speed was still high and the trajectory was being corrected.