SZD-9 Bocian spin training won't recover; both bail out at 400 m
An SZD-9 Bocian was destroyed during spin training at Langhennersdorf (Germany); both instructor and student bailed out and were lightly injured. After an aerotow release at 800 m the crew entered a planned one-turn spin to the left. Standard recovery inputs of right rudder and elevator release had no effect, and the instructor also pushed right rudder without result. After 5-6 turns he ordered exit at 400 m and both occupants landed under parachute. The borrowed glider showed no technical defects; investigators noted the instructor's three-year recurrency gap on type and the student's very limited experience.
- Aerotow to 800 m for spin training: The Bocian launched at 14:45 from Langhennersdorf for an instructional spin exercise (recognize and exit a spin); the tow rope was released at 800 m.
- Instructor recurrency gap on type: The instructor had a multi-year gap in flying the Bocian before recent recurrency training, with no recent spin practice on the type.
- Very low student experience: The 18-year-old student pilot had only about 4 h total time across 32 launches, including 5 launches and 36 minutes on the SZD-9 Bocian.
- Spin entry, left rudder: After clearing turns and a transition to slow flight, the spin was initiated by left rudder input; instructor and student gave conflicting accounts of who applied it.
- Recovery inputs ineffective: After one turn the student applied right rudder against the rotation and released the elevator, but the glider did not respond; the instructor then also applied right rudder, without effect.
- Bailout ordered at 400 m: After about 5-6 spin turns, at roughly 400 m above ground, the instructor ordered a bailout; the student jettisoned the canopy and both occupants exited via the fuselage sides.
- Both parachute safely; glider destroyed: Both occupants landed near the village main street under their rescue parachutes with light injuries; the unmanned glider came to rest inverted on a tree in a private garden.