Crash d'un DG-505 à l'aérodrome de North Hill lors de l'approche en vol solo

Le 22 avril 2007, un DG Flugzeugbau DG-505 Elan Orion s'est écrasé à l'aérodrome de North Hill, Honiton, Devon, lors d'un vol solo. Le pilote expérimenté, qui suivait une formation de conversion sur le DG-505, est entré dans un piqué abrupt à l'approche, entraînant l'impact de l'appareil au sol. Le pilote a subi de graves blessures et l'appareil a été détruit. L'enquête a révélé qu'une défaillance du câble électrique utilisé pour maintenir l'appuie-tête du cockpit arrière a conduit à une perte de contrôle.

1. Approach and landing: After an uneventful winch launch and normal circuit, the glider turned onto final approach at appropriate height and speed under supervision of the duty instructor.
2. Headrest cable failure: During final approach the non‑standard electrical cable restraining the rear cockpit hinged headrest failed at its attachment to the rear shoulder harness point, allowing the headrest to move freely.
3. Unapproved restraint cable: The original manufacturer‑specified nylon/perlon headrest cords had previously been replaced by an electrical cable of different material and properties, which was accepted by club members and not identified as non‑compliant during inspections.
4. Inadequate inspection regime: The relevant Technical Note and Flight Manual revision requiring daily inspection of the rear headrest ropes was not incorporated into the cockpit Flight Manual copy and was not effectively acted upon during annual and daily inspections.
5. Headrest jams controls: With the restraining cable failed, the rear headrest pivoted forward onto the rear control column and then dropped behind it, preventing rearward movement of the column and restricting elevator up‑deflection.
6. Unrecoverable steep dive: The restriction of rearward control column travel caused the glider to adopt a steep nose‑down attitude on final approach and descend rapidly with little change in attitude until ground impact.
7. Crash - serious injury: The glider struck the ground nose‑first, bounced with tail impact and tailplane separation, then impacted again and was destroyed, seriously injuring the pilot.