DG 200 incident during aerobatic test at Fricktal Schupfart airfield
On December 2, 1979, a DG Flugzeugbau DG 200 Acro Racer was involved in an incident during an aerobatic test flight at Fricktal Schupfart airfield, Switzerland. The pilot experienced a control blockage while performing a loop, which led to an uncontrolled descent. The pilot successfully ejected from the glider using a parachute, sustaining minor injuries. The glider was severely damaged upon impact. The investigation confirmed the control blockage was caused by the rudder pedal adjustment cable.
- Aerotow aerobatic test: During an aerobatic test flight after aerotow release at about 1200 m above Fricktal-Schupfart, the pilot was evaluating the DG 200 AR Acro Racer’s inverted flight and flap settings.
- Rudder pedal cable layout: The rudder pedal adjustment control cable was routed in such a way that it could interfere with the control stick and its attached wheel brake lever in forward positions.
- Control stick blockage: While pulling out of a pushed-over looping with a 70–80° nose-down attitude, the pilot attempted to ease back on the stick but found it blocked in the fully forward position by the rudder pedal adjustment cable.
- Use of roll and yaw: Unable to move the elevator, the pilot used rudder and aileron to turn about 50° left and momentarily level the glider in a high angle-of-attack attitude.
- Uncontrolled inverted spiral: Immediately afterward the glider pitched forward into inverted flight and entered a steep inverted spiral with increasing airspeed, descending toward the ground.
- Bailout under negative G: At about 350 m AGL and roughly 200 km/h, the pilot jettisoned the canopy and, with great effort due to negative G and belt load, managed to open the harness buckle and was thrown clear, his parachute opening around 100 m AGL.
- Crash - minor injury: The glider impacted the ground in a flat inverted attitude and was severely damaged, while the pilot landed under parachute nearby with minor injuries.