El SZD-55 choca contra un avión estacionado tras salirse en el remolque

Durante un despegue remolcado en Bad Ragaz, un SZD-55-1 clavó un ala, se salió de la pista y chocó contra un Mooney estacionado; piloto levemente herido, planeador levemente dañado, el Mooney gravemente. En el séptimo vuelo del piloto en el tipo, poco después de tensarse el cable, la puntera derecha tocó la hierba; una palanca de alerón mal montada en fábrica había reducido la eficacia en alabeo, de modo que el mando a tope no pudo levantar el ala y el planeador se salió. El piloto largó tarde sin frenar; el planeador rodó ~100 m contra el Mooney. Causas: toque de ala y salida de pista, largado tardío, alerón debilitado, freno no usado.

1. Aerotow takeoff roll: During an aerotow departure on runway 12, the SZD-55-1 began its takeoff roll in variable 5–10 kt wind for the pilot’s seventh conversion flight on type.
2. Misrigged aileron control: The right aileron drive lever had been incorrectly installed at the factory, giving both ailerons excessive positive setting and reducing roll control effectiveness.
3. Right wing contacts ground: Shortly after the towplane began to pull, the glider’s right wingtip touched the ground in the grass area beside the paved runway.
4. Veer off runway: The right wing was decelerated by the low grass and, despite full opposite aileron, the glider yawed and departed the hard-surface runway after about 30 meters.
5. Tow cable released late: After being unable to raise the wing, the pilot released the nose hook tow cable only after roughly 50 meters of ground run, by which time the glider was already off the runway.
6. Wheel brake not used: With only about three seconds remaining before impact, the pilot did not apply the wheel brake and the glider continued rolling unchecked toward a hangar.
7. Crash - minor injury: After a ground roll of about 100 meters, the unbraked glider collided heavily with a parked Mooney M20J, causing major damage to the Mooney, minor glider damage, and minor pilot injury.