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.

1. Aerotow + 800 m release for spin training: The Bocian launched at 14:45 from Langhennersdorf for an instructional spin exercise (syllabus item 1.10.1, 'recognize and exit spin'); the tow rope was released at 800 m. The aircraft had been borrowed from a neighboring club because the home club had sold its own Bocian in 2012.
2. Instructor recurrency gap on type: The 40-year-old instructor had 888 h total and 132 h on the Bocian, with 810 launches on type, but had a roughly 3-year gap on the Bocian before recent recurrency: only 9 flights on type in the last 90 days. Annual spin practice between 2006-2012 on the Bocian; in 2015 only one spin exercise each on Twin-Astir and Vivat.
3. 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.
4. Spin entry, left rudder: After clearing turns and a transition to slow flight, the spin was initiated by left rudder input. Conflicting statements between instructor and student about who actually applied the rudder for the entry.
5. Recovery inputs ineffective: After one turn the student applied right rudder against the rotation and released the elevator. The aircraft did not respond. The instructor then also pushed the right rudder pedal. The aircraft still did not respond and continued the rotation.
6. Bailout ordered at 400 m: After approximately 5-6 spin turns, at about 400 m above ground, the instructor ordered the crew to bail out. The student jettisoned the front canopy; just as the rotation began to stop both occupants exited via the fuselage sidewalls.
7. Both safely under parachute; aircraft destroyed: Both occupants landed beside the village main street using their automatic rescue parachutes and sustained light injuries. The unmanned glider came to rest inverted on a destroyed tree in a private garden ~250 m from the dropped front canopy. Examination of the controls revealed no technical defects.