Accidente de SZD-50-3 en Schönhagen tras fallo de lanzamiento por cabrestante y entrada en barrena
El 28 de agosto de 1999, un SZD-50-3 Puchacz se estrelló cerca de Schönhagen después de un fallo en el lanzamiento por cabrestante. Durante el vuelo de entrenamiento, el planeador experimentó una reducción en la tracción del cabrestante, lo que provocó una entrada en barrena y un impacto posterior en un bosque de pinos. El piloto alumno de 76 años resultó gravemente herido y la aeronave fue destruida. La investigación encontró que la palanca de apagado de emergencia del cabrestante se había movido inadvertidamente, causando la pérdida de potencia. No se encontraron fallos técnicos en el planeador en sí.
- Winch launch climb: During a training winch launch in Schönhagen, the Puchacz glider was climbing normally behind the winch.
- Inadvertent shutoff lever: The winch’s emergency engine shutoff lever had been unintentionally moved toward the 'off' position, with its wire lock open, making an uncommanded power reduction likely.
- Winch power reduction: At about 150 m height the winch engine power suddenly decreased despite the throttle remaining at full, causing the tow cable to slacken.
- Low altitude, student pilot: The 76-year-old student pilot with limited total experience was at only about 100–150 m AGL, leaving little height for error or recovery.
- No timely launch abort: Despite earlier indications of briefly reduced cable pull and the later marked loss of tension, the pilot did not initiate a start abort or promptly release the cable.
- Stall and spin: As the cable tension dropped the glider’s pitch attitude and speed were not sufficiently corrected, leading to an over‑pitch, stall, and spin to the left at about 100–150 m AGL.
- Crash - serious injury: After several spin turns, with the cable separating shortly before impact, the glider crashed into a nearby pine forest about 100 m from the runway, seriously injuring the pilot and destroying the aircraft.