What happened
On August 13, 2012, at 13:25 local time, a Schempp-Hirth Nimbus 2 glider, registered F-CEDA, was performing a takeoff roll on the unpaved runway 23 at the Rouen Vallée de Seine aerodrome. During the takeoff roll, as the aircraft reached a speed of approximately 60 km/h, the pilot perceived that the right wingtip was making contact with the ground.
Despite efforts to correct the roll and level the wings, the pilot was unable to maintain lateral control. The aircraft began a ground loop (cheval de bois), leading the pilot to release the tow cable. Following the release, the glider overturned onto its back before coming to a rest on the runway. The accident resulted in one injury to the pilot and the total destruction of the glider.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's account, which was corroborated by the tow plane pilot and the ground assistant responsible for holding the left wing. The investigation also assessed the runway conditions and the pilot's experience. At the time of the accident, the wind was a headwind of approximately 7 to 8 knots.
Regarding the airfield, the runway surface had not undergone maintenance since 2009. While routine resurfacing occurs roughly every three years, the investigation noted that the runway's condition had deteriorated to the point that resurfacing was required, though it was not scheduled until 2013 due to technical resource availability. The pilot, who had 1,322 total flight hours (including 182 hours on this type), was aware of the runway's surface condition prior to the flight.
Findings
- The investigation could not definitively establish a single cause for the accident.
- A contributing factor may have been the deteriorated state of the runway surface, which potentially caused difficulties in controlling the glider's roll during the takeoff roll.