What happened
On May 8, 2000, at 16:30, a Centrair C 101 A glider, registered F-CGNC, was attempting a takeoff from runway 28 at Saumur aerodrome. The flight was a local training sortie conducted by a gliding club. During the takeoff roll, after approximately 100 meters of movement, the glider began to lift slightly. However, the tow plane experienced a reduction in speed as it encountered a section of the unpaved runway that had become soft due to previous rainfall.
As the tow plane slowed, the glider lost contact with the ground, tilting to the left. The left wing subsequently struck tall grass. Observing the glider entering a ground loop, the pilot of the tow plane released the tow cable to prevent further complications.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the runway conditions and the sequence of the takeoff roll. Investigators established that while the tow plane pilot had successfully completed several previous glider departures earlier that day, those maneuvers had not required traversing the specific damp area of the runway that caused the deceleration. The investigation examined the impact of the moisture on the unpaved surface and its effect on the tow plane's ability to maintain momentum during the initial phase of the takeoff.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the towing aircraft slowing down while traversing a partially wet section of the runway.
- The moisture on the unpaved surface reduced the tow plane's performance during the takeoff roll.
- The resulting loss of tension and speed caused the Centrair C 101 A to lose its directional stability, leading to the left wing striking the grass and causing damage to the fuselage and skid.