Ventus 2cM's fuselage is holed by a beet after its engine seizes on a self-launch

On a self-launch from Zábřeh, the pilot of a Ventus 2cM was unhurt and the glider substantially damaged when its engine stopped at 70–80 m AGL and the pilot landed ahead in a beet field. Shortly after take-off at maximum mass, reduced engine power held the climb to about 1–1.5 m/s instead of the usual 2.2 m/s, so the pilot turned 45° right to avoid Kravaře. The engine then surged and stopped; a restart failed. The gear, not fully extended, retracted on touchdown and a beet punctured the fuselage. The manufacturer found a seized piston; the cause was given as the engine failure and the emergency landing on an unsuitable surface.

1. Self-launch from Zábřeh at max mass: The pilot self-launched from Zábřeh at about 10:30 for a local practice flight, at the maximum take-off mass of 525 kg including 50 l of water ballast.
2. Reduced engine power in the climb: Shortly after departure the pilot noticed reduced engine power: the glider climbed at about 1–1.5 m/s instead of the usual 2.2 m/s. He turned about 45° right to avoid Kravaře.
3. Engine stops at 70–80 m: The engine then picked up to a 2–3 m/s climb and stopped at 70–80 m AGL; a restart with the starter failed. The manufacturer later found a seized piston.
4. Landing ahead, gear not fully down: With little height, the pilot decided to land straight ahead in a beet field north of Kravaře and touched down within about 20–25 s, before the gear was fully extended.
5. Gear retracts, beet holes fuselage: On touchdown the gear retracted and the fuselage settled onto the field, where a beet punctured it ahead of the gear. The pilot was unhurt.