What happened
On May 22, 2016, at approximately 14:40 local time, an Arcus M glider, registration HB-2480, was performing a private flight under visual flight rules (VFR) at the Schänis airfield (LSZX). The aircraft was in the landing phase of its flight, having departed from and intended to return to the same airfield.
As the aircraft touched down on runway 16, it was struck by a strong gust of wind. This sudden aerodynamic force caused the left wing to catch the grass, leading to a loss of directional control. The momentum caused the aircraft to rotate around its vertical axis, resulting in a ground loop.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the touchdown and the environmental conditions at the time of the incident. Investigators examined the aircraft's movement following the contact with the runway surface and the impact of the wind on the glider's stability during the landing roll.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a strong gust that intercepted the aircraft immediately after touchdown.
- The wind force caused the left wing to dip into the grass, disrupting the aircraft's path.
- The resulting rotation (ground loop) led to structural damage to the rudder.
- There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger on board, though the aircraft sustained light damage.