Standard Cirrus 75 tailplane detaches on aerotow — mis-rigged, passed control check
A Standard Cirrus 75 crashed on aerotow launch at Gwernesney; the pilot died from injuries. The glider had been rigged single-handed in a way that left the tailplane locking mechanism not properly engaged, although a positive control check passed. During the ground roll the wingtip holder saw the tailplane wobble, then the whole tailplane flipped up and detached. The stop signal did not reach the tug pilot. The glider lifted off, climbed rapidly, then on tow release nosed down into a near-vertical inverted impact. AAIB cited the mis-rigged tailplane that defeated the control check.
- Solo rigging including tailplane: Pilot helped to attach the wings, then declined further assistance and rigged the tailplane alone.
- Positive control check incomplete: A positive control check by another member showed nothing untoward — but did not detect a mis-rigged state where the locking mechanism appears engaged but is not fully secure.
- Aerotow launch ground roll: Tug G-AVXA taking up slack and applying power; wingtip holder supporting left wingtip.
- Tailplane wobble then detaches: Wingtip holder noticed tailplane "wobble"; with full propwash from the tug the leading edge lifted and the entire tailplane flipped up off the fin.
- Stop signal not received: Wingtip holder shouted "stop" and released the wing as a visual stop signal; forward signaller relayed but the tug pilot, concentrating on the takeoff roll, did not see it.
- Rapid climb, no pitch control: Glider lifted off with no pitch authority and climbed steeply to 30-80 ft; tow cable released.
- Inverted impact, fatal: Nose dropped, near-vertical descent, inverted impact. Pilot extricated and airlifted; died 5 days later. AAIB issued safety recommendations on launch signalling and tailplane lever alignment detection.