ASW 28-18E with extended engine hits power line on outlanding

The pilot of an ASW 28-18E was seriously injured on an outlanding near Wagenbühl and the glider was destroyed. After an aerotow from Agathazell and fading thermals, the pilot dropped ballast and ran the sustainer engine for ~10 min at Leutkirch and ~15 min near Blender without escaping the area, then chose to outland. After he shut the engine down the propeller could not be fixed and the engine would not retract — the propeller stopper's Bowden cable had slipped its clamp. With the engine still extended the glider overflew a power line on approach, struck it and fell to the ground; the protruding engine drove the contact with the line.

1. Aerotow XC from Agathazell ~12 LT: At about 12:00 LT on 31 May 2014 the pilot launched an ASW 28-18E with sustainer engine on aerotow from Agathazell for a cross-country flight, in gusty 15-20 kt wind under CAVOK conditions.
2. Thermals fade; two engine runs: As thermals deteriorated, the pilot jettisoned water ballast near Biberach, then ran the sustainer engine twice, about ten and fifteen minutes, but could not escape the Blender area.
3. Propeller won't fix; engine stuck: Shutting the engine down, the pilot could not fix the propeller in its stowed position, so the sustainer would not retract; the stopper's Bowden cable had slipped from its clamp.
4. Decision to outland: With the engine extended and unable to leave the area, the pilot committed to an outlanding in a field he had selected near Wagenbühl.
5. Hits 8 m power line on approach: On approach to the field north of Wagenbühl the glider had to overfly an 8.2 m power line running parallel to the road, and struck it.
6. Falls to ground beside line: After striking the line the glider fell to the ground, coming to rest on its left side with the fuselage twisted and both wings separated. The pilot was seriously injured but exited unaided.