What happened
On May 23, 2011, a Ventus 2cM motor glider, registration D-KGIT, was participating in a gliding competition near Terlet. During the flight, the pilot retracted the retractable engine at an altitude of 500 meters. After approximately two and a half hours of flying, the pilot found it impossible to maintain altitude due to a lack of thermals near Uddel and decided to perform a forced landing in a nearby field.
At an altitude of approximately 300 meters, the pilot attempted to restart the engine using a checklist. However, the engine failed to start. Because the engine was deployed but non-functional, the aircraft's glide ratio was significantly degraded, forcing the pilot to focus entirely on the approaching landing. The pilot selected a field that was divided by barbed wire and bordered by trees. To ensure the aircraft stopped within the short available space, the pilot approached at a low speed of approximately 95 km/h. During the final stages of the landing, the aircraft stalled at a height of about 1.5 meters, resulting in a hard landing that caused the main wheel to collapse and the tail to break off. The pilot was uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation focused on why the engine failed to start and why the aircraft stalled during the landing. Investigators found that the pilot had failed to properly complete the engine deployment checklist. Specifically, the propeller brake lever had been left in the engaged position, preventing the engine from turning. This error was attributed to a lack of checklist discipline and the fact that the pilot was distracted by nearby glider traffic.
Furthermore, the investigation examined the cockpit ergonomics. A handheld GPS/navigation device placed in the cockpit obstructed the pilot's view of the propeller brake lever, making it impossible to notice that the lever had not been moved to the correct position. The investigation also noted that the pilot had relatively limited experience with this specific aircraft type and its engine starting procedures.