Fallo de motor en DG-400 lleva a un aterrizaje en campo seguro cerca de Jesenwang

El 11 de agosto de 2000, un Glaser-Dirks DG-400 experimentó un fallo de motor poco después de despegar del aeródromo de Jesenwang. El piloto detectó fuertes vibraciones y decidió realizar un aterrizaje en campo. La aeronave aterrizó de manera segura en un campo cercano, con solo daños menores en la hélice y sin lesiones. La investigación reveló que la falla se debió a grietas por fatiga en el soporte de la hélice. La decisión del piloto de aterrizar en campo previno daños adicionales a la aeronave.

1. Self-launch climb: The DG-400 self-launched from Jesenwang runway 25 and was climbing normally shortly after takeoff.
2. Strong engine vibration: Shortly before turning into the left crosswind leg, the pilot felt strong shaking from the engine area, later found to be caused by fatigue failure of the rear propeller support.
3. Power reduced, turn: The pilot throttled the engine back to idle and initiated a right turn away from the circuit to manage the situation.
4. Decision to outland: Assessing that he could not safely reach Jesenwang, the pilot decided to perform an outlanding in a nearby field.
5. Wing digs into crop: During touchdown in the 80 cm high grain, the right wingtip sank deeper into the crop than the left, forcing the glider into a right pivot on the ground.
6. Outlanding - damage: The glider completed an off-field landing in a grain field with minor damage to the propeller and propulsion support but no injuries to the pilot.