Centrair 201 stalls on reverse-direction landing after winch cable break

A Centrair 201-B 'Marianne' was destroyed in a reverse-direction landing at Graulhet-Montdragon; the two occupants were uninjured. On a winch launch the cable broke at ~80 m AGL (rupture mode not determined). After release and pitch-down (100 to 70 km/h, slow to recover), the pilot judged land-ahead infeasible and chose a 180° turnback. The glider drifted north, met sink, and ended too low for the grass runway. On flare for the paved runway there was no control response; the glider stalled, struck the ground, and slid ~100 m, breaking the fuselage. BEA cited the turnback rather than land-ahead, with slow speed recovery contributing.

1. Dual winch launch from runway 27: Centrair 201-B 'Marianne' (F-CBLG) at Graulhet-Montdragon (Tarn). Pilot 58 yo, SPL with ~300 h glider (36 h in last 3 months); winch launch training completed at Graulhet in June 2022, instructor rating since August 2022, ~40 winch launches since training. Also ATPL(A) with ~7,300 h airplane time. Passenger on board. Winch launch from unpaved runway 27 (810×50 m). Weather: wind 330°/6 kt with 12 kt gusts, CAVOK, 23 °C. Helicopters (NH90, EC665) on the runway edge.
2. Cable breaks at ~80 m AGL: During the initial climb at about 80 m AGL (FLARM showed peak 109 m), the winch cable suddenly ruptured. BEA examination: the rope broke 130 mm from the glider-side knot; rupture mode not determined. The rope also had a wear zone 250 mm from the parachute-side knot.
3. Release, pitch down (100→70 km/h): Pilot immediately released the cable and pitched down to regain speed. Airspeed dropped from ~100 km/h to ~70 km/h; the pilot reported speed recovery felt 'very long'. VOA (Vitesse Optimum d'Approche) was 100 km/h for the type.
4. Slow speed recovery, drifted north: During the speed recovery the glider drifted north of the runway axis. Pilot's situational analysis: too little runway remaining ahead to land straight; too high for the field in the runway-axis extension; too low for a shortened circuit; helicopters at the runway edge increased risk on that side. Pilot had not pre-considered the helicopter factor before takeoff.
5. 180° turn to land reverse direction: Pilot continued the northward offset and turned left back toward the airfield, intending to land contre-QFU (opposite the takeoff direction). The CNVV winch launch manual recommends landing straight ahead below 100 m, shortened circuit above 200 m, pilot's choice between 100 and 200 m. Pilot's release height was at the lower end of this range.
6. Sink encountered, too low for grass: During the turn back, the pilot briefly deployed the airbrakes; they came out immediately and were retracted. While perpendicular to the runway, the glider encountered sink. Pilot realized the glider was too low to reach the unpaved (grass) runway.
7. Flare on paved runway, control lost: Pilot redirected to the paved runway. On the flare felt a lack of control response and had no time to monitor airspeed. Glider likely stalled close to the ground.
8. Glider stalls, slides 100 m: Glider touched the ground with the main wheel and left wing, slid about 100 m toward the parking area. The fuselage broke. Aircraft destroyed; no injuries to the two occupants. BEA safety lesson: the cable assembly didn't meet CNVV recommendations (missing the 3 m avançon between the TOST ring and the fuse pack). This was not contributory to this accident sequence, but the configuration presented a risk that the élingue (sling) could interfere with the empennage if a fuse broke without cable release.