Accidente del SHK-1 durante aterrizaje en campo cerca de Moudon, Suiza, el 16 de junio de 1967
El 16 de junio de 1967, un Schempp-Hirth SHK-1 sufrió un accidente durante un aterrizaje en campo cerca de Moudon, Suiza. El piloto intentó aterrizar en un campo tras no encontrar sustentación adecuada durante un vuelo de campeonato nacional de vuelo a vela. Al desplegar los frenos de picado y un paracaídas de frenado, el planeador se volteó y se estrelló, resultando en lesiones para el piloto. La investigación concluyó que una entrada rápida de control combinada con el uso del timón causó que el planeador se volteara e invirtiera. El piloto fue hospitalizado con una lesión en la cabeza, mientras que el planeador sufrió daños significativos.
- Cross-country approach: During a national championship cross-country task, the pilot, unable to find further lift near Moudon, committed to an off-field landing in a mown pasture aligned 04–22.
- High-energy short final: On short final over the chosen field, after crossing a high-tension power line at about 15 m, the pilot deployed the tail braking parachute and extended dive brakes, steepening the glide to roughly 20° at about 120 km/h.
- Low height and drag: The flare was initiated only a few meters above ground with both dive brakes and braking parachute deployed, reducing control effectiveness in the boundary layer and making pitch response sluggish.
- Abrupt control input: Per flight tests and the pilot’s account, when the glider reacted weakly to initial aft stick during the flare, the pilot pulled the stick rapidly while also applying some rudder to correct heading.
- Uncommanded roll and inversion: The combined rapid aft stick and rudder input caused the SHK-1 to yaw and roll left, entering a rapid half-roll to inverted flight with the left wingtip striking the ground.
- Crash - minor injury: The glider impacted inverted in the axis of the intended landing field, sustaining substantial damage while the pilot suffered a head laceration requiring hospitalization.