Cable break on first ASK 23 B flight: surprise airbrake effect, hard landing

A student pilot was lightly injured in a hard landing in an ASK 23 B at Kirchzarten; the glider was substantially damaged. It was the student's first flight on type, with about 45 hours total. After a normal winch climb the cable broke at 120 to 150 m AGL. The student lowered the nose, turned 180 degrees, and chose to land on the cable retrieve strip after the instructor radioed it clear. At about 4 to 5 m AGL he deployed the airbrakes and was surprised by their effectiveness; the glider sank rapidly. He retracted them, but the ASK 23 B touched down hard several times and yawed about 90 degrees left on the last impact.

1. First winch on ASK 23 B from RWY 36: At 15:53 LT on 12 August 2012 a student pilot began a winch launch from RWY 36 of Segelfluggelände Kirchzarten. The flight was his first on the ASK 23 B; theoretical type conversion had been completed the day before. He had been in training since August 2010, with about 45 h total experience and 156 prior winch launches on the ASK 21 and Ka 8. Earlier that day he had flown two dual training flights with an instructor in the ASK 21. Surface wind was about 330° at 5 kt.
2. Cable break at 120–150 m AGL: After a normal initial climb the winch cable broke at about 120–150 m above the ground, ending the launch.
3. 180° turn, lands on cable strip: The student lowered the nose to level flight and initiated a 180° turn back to the airfield. The instructor radioed that both the cable retrieve strip and RWY 18 were clear; the student chose to land on the cable retrieve strip.
4. Surprised by airbrake effect, sinks: On final at about 4–5 m AGL the student deployed the airbrakes. He was surprised by their effectiveness; the glider sank rapidly. He retracted the airbrakes in response, but residual sink rate was already high. This was the student's first flight on the ASK 23 B and he was unfamiliar with its airbrake authority.
5. Hard touchdowns, 90° left yaw: The ASK 23 B touched down hard several times on the cable retrieve strip. On the last impact it abruptly yawed about 90° to the left around the vertical axis before coming to rest.
6. Substantial damage; minor injury: The ASK 23 B came to rest about 75 m from the launch point on RWY 36, a few metres east of the cable retrieve strip. The fuselage was broken just ahead of the empennage; the lower fuselage shell was broken at the cockpit area; the canopy frame was distorted and the canopy glazing torn on the left side. The student was lightly injured.