DG-400 lands hard with a tailwind after its engine stops on a self-launch

At a competition at Šumperk, the pilot of a DG-400 was unhurt and the glider substantially damaged when its engine stopped at 49 m on a self-launch and he landed hard in a field with a tailwind. With no safe landing ahead and buildings, trailers and people to the right, he turned 120° left. The dead engine stayed extended, and with a strong tailwind the speed fell close to the stall in the flare; the glider struck on its wheels and right wingtip, bounced and ground-looped. The engine probably stopped from air in the fuel line. The cause was given as the piloting, shaped by the forced choice of field, the extended engine and the tailwind.

1. Self-launch from RWY 36: On a competition day at Šumperk the pilot self-launched from RWY 36 at 14:13; the take-off roll was slow in tall grass on the slightly rising runway.
2. Engine stops at about 49 m: At about 49 m AGL, 150–200 m before the runway's end, the engine stopped. The pilot lowered the nose to about 100 km/h and left the engine extended.
3. Turn of about 120° to a field: He judged a landing ahead no longer safe; with buildings, trailers and people to the right and a tow about to launch behind, he turned about 120° left towards a sown field.
4. Tailwind, engine still extended: The turn ended with a strong tailwind. With the dead engine still extended, the speed fell from about 100 km/h to close to the stall in the flare.
5. Hard landing, bounce, ground loop: The glider struck the field on its main wheel, tailwheel and right wingtip, bounced about 20 m, touched again and ground-looped to the right; the right wing's torsion box collapsed.