Discus 2cT strikes a hidden irrigation pipe during an outlanding

The pilot of a Discus 2cT was seriously injured when the glider struck a concealed irrigation pipe during an outlanding near Wörth am Rhein; the aircraft was badly damaged. On a cross-country flight, the pilot restarted the sustainer at about 350 m above the ground to return home, but it would not reach full power and gave almost no climb. He set up an outlanding on a field of maize and carrots. In an otherwise normal landing in gusty wind, the main wheel caught a steel irrigation pipe hidden among the crops; the glider stopped abruptly and swung around. A later test traced the power loss to a defective ignition system.

1. Cross-country in a sustainer sailplane: After a winch launch for a cross-country flight, the pilot made a fault-free nine-minute engine run at altitude, then retracted the engine and soared on.
2. Sustainer gives no climb at ~350 m: As the thermals weakened, the pilot restarted the engine at about 350 m above the ground to motor home, but it held a low speed of about 1,600 rpm and produced almost no climb.
3. Retracts engine, commits to outlanding: With no useful power, the pilot retracted the engine and set up an outlanding on a field of maize and carrots.
4. Main wheel catches a hidden pipe: On an otherwise normal float in gusty wind, the main wheel caught a massive steel irrigation pipe that lay across the landing direction, hidden among the crops.
5. Abrupt stop; pilot seriously injured: The glider was stopped abruptly and swung through about 90 degrees; the pilot was seriously injured and the aircraft badly damaged. A later test traced the power loss to a defective ignition system.