Pilot stalls Janus CM clearing power cables on outlanding

A Janus CM motor glider was severely damaged in an outlanding after its engine jammed half-extended; pilot and passenger uninjured. After diverting to Camphill and ridge-soaring ~90 min, the pilot tried to raise the engine for the return; it would not lock and jammed half-extended, adding drag. He picked an upslope field, but late on final saw a line of power cables and chose to fly over rather than reposition; in the manoeuvre he stalled the glider, which fell ~6 m into the field with minor nose damage and complete tail disruption. A missing roll-pin on the engine extension spindle had let the upper pivot unwind.

1. Ridge-soaring at Camphill: Originally planned Saltby–Long Mynd; diverted to the Camphill area after weather deteriorated. The pilot ridge-soared for ~90 min before attempting to restart the engine for the return.
2. Engine fails to lock extended: On raising the engine, it would not fully extend and lock. Attempting to retract jammed it in a partially extended state, increasing drag — the glider could no longer be flown back.
3. Missing spindle roll-pin: The roll-pin securing the top of the engine spindle had fallen out and was later found in the fuselage, letting the pivot unwind so the engine could not lock, despite working before.
4. Field selection across the valley: Ridge-soaring continued while the pilot picked an upslope field across the valley to land into wind.
5. Power cables seen late on final: On short final the pilot saw a line of power cables across the approach path late and chose to fly over them rather than reposition the approach.
6. Pilot stalls clearing the cables: During the over-cables manoeuvre the pilot stalled the glider; it fell ~6 m into the field.
7. Heavy ground impact; no injuries: The aircraft hit the field heavily, suffering minor nose damage and complete tail disruption; pilot and passenger uninjured.