ASK 13 instructor revalidation — ballooned landing, rapid de-rotation
An ASK 13 on an instructor revalidation flight at Lasham Airfield (Hampshire) was undamaged but the instructor was seriously injured. The PIC role-played as a student and ballooned the touchdown; the instructor took control, the glider landed tailwheel-first and de-rotated rapidly. The PIC was uninjured. AAIB cited the rapid de-rotation following the ballooned landing, noting that faster airbrake closure would have moderated the pitch-down.
- Approach to land at Lasham: On an instructor revalidation flight, the Schleicher ASK 13 was on final approach to land at Lasham Airfield (EGHL). The pilot in command (age 72, 23,000 hours total, 1,500 on type) was role-playing as a student; the instructor under revalidation was in the other seat (listed as Passenger in the AAIB record).
- Instructor revalidation context: AAIB observes that instructor revalidation flights carry a slight increased risk of mishap when an unexpected or unusual inject is made, particularly during crucial phases.
- Roleplay misalignment: PIC's self-assessment: the pre-flight brief should have made clearer that when the PIC was role-playing as a student, the instructor under revalidation should not falsely assume the PIC would fly to a high standard.
- Ballooned landing: As the aircraft was about to land, the PIC (acting as a student) performed a ballooned touchdown — a sudden unwanted gain in height as the glider neared the ground.
- Instructor takes control: The instructor immediately took control of the glider to recover the landing.
- Tailwheel-first, rapid de-rotation: The glider landed tailwheel-first and de-rotated rapidly. PIC's self-assessment: faster intervention to close (and keep closed) the airbrakes would have prevented the rapid de-rotation.
- Serious injury to instructor: The instructor (listed as Passenger in the AAIB record) sustained a serious injury during the landing. The PIC was uninjured and the glider was undamaged.