ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 239788
Last updated: 9 December 2020
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| Date: | 22-JUL-2020 |
| Time: | 15:15 |
| Type: |  Glaser-Dirks DG-400 |
| Owner/operator: | Västerås Segelflygklubb |
| Registration: | SE-UYX |
| C/n / msn: | 4-184 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Surahammar -
 Sweden
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Johannisberg Airport |
| Johannisberg Airport | |
| Investigating agency: | SHK Sweden |
The flight with a Glaser-Dirks DG-400 glider was planned as a long-distance flight from Johannisberg Airport with a planned return to the same airport. Takeoff was performed using the glider’s engine. After about two hours flight, the pilot decided to abort the navigation due to unfavorable weather and return for landing via Surahammar.
The pilot realized that Johannisberg could not be reached and he selected a crop field which he considered to use for an out-landing. It later turned out that there was nearly ripe oat growing on the field.
The glider was of SLG-type and is equipped with a small engine which can be used to climb and thereby avoid an out-landing, provided it can be started.
The pilot attempted to start the engine but the engine did not start. The pilot did not use the choke for engine start despite the fact that this is an item in the manual for the procedure of starting a cold engine. The final approach and landing in the field were performed in an appropriate manner, and speed and sink rate were normal at touchdown. There was moderate crosswind in the area but the local conditions at touchdown are not known.
During touch-down the glider’s tailwheel came in contact with the crop first, and then the glider decelerated abruptly when the wings came in contact with the crop. The left wing was broken off at the fuselage. The main wheel and the cockpit were damaged.
The pilot was unharmed and could evacuate without assistance. First responders were not alerted.
SHK has chosen not to investigate the reason for the failed engine start due to the fact that it is quite common for start attempts to fail with this type of engine. A pilot can therefore not expect the engine to start. The purpose of the engine is also not to prevent out-landings from a safety point of view. SHK finds the form and position of the engine controls appropriate for the aircraft type with a relatively simple engine start procedure minimizing pilot error.
The high sink-rate near the ground was probably the result of a normal use of speed-brakes when reducing excess energy on the final leg. Airspeed and sinkrate prior to touch-down were assessed as appropriate for the prevailing conditions. SHK considers that the planning and the performance of the out-landing were correct. The structural damage to the glider was probably caused by the sudden and uneven retardation when sinking into the crop field.
Sources:
https://www.havkom.se/en/investigations/civil-luftfart/olycka-med-ett-segelflygplan-utanfoer-surahammar
Accident investigation:
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Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Aug-2020 18:42 | harro | Added |
| 13-Aug-2020 19:25 | RobertMB | Updated [Operator, Total occupants, Nature, Narrative] |
| 09-Dec-2020 20:13 | harro | Updated [Time, Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative, Accident report] |
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