Disconnected aileron costs Nimbus 3T roll control on aerotow

On his first launch of a newly-acquired Nimbus 3T, the pilot was seriously injured when a disconnected aileron left the glider uncontrollable in roll and it struck farm buildings; the glider was destroyed. On the initial aerotow, in a right turn at low height, the aileron control felt stiff and the right bank steepened; the pilot released the rope but the glider rolled into a farmyard. A left-aileron control connector had not been seated during rigging, so roll could not be corrected. The pre-flight control check had loaded the linkage only in compression, which could not reveal the fault.

1. First launch on type: The pilot rigged his newly-acquired Nimbus 3T and launched by aerotow from Fürth-Seckendorf — his first flight on the type.
2. Aileron control stiff: In a right turn on the initial low aerotow, the aileron control felt stiff and the right bank steepened.
3. Aileron connector unseated: A left-aileron control connector had not been seated during rigging; its pin was in but the ball not engaged.
4. Roll uncontrollable: Roll could not be corrected; the pilot released the tow rope.
5. Crashed into farm buildings: The glider rolled into a farmyard and was destroyed; the pilot was seriously injured.