Schweizer
2-33 C-GFME
31
July 2003
Picton, ON
The standards instructor pilot (IP) and the Air Cadet
student were participating in the Central Region Air
Cadet Gliding School. This was the IP's third launch
of the day at the end of the fourth week of gliding
training. The flight was the student's pre-solo check
ride and required the student to fly the entire flight
with minimal verbal input from the IP. Shortly after
take off, the student failed to adequately maintain
proper glider position behind the tow-plane. After a
significant amount of slack developed in the tow-cable,
the IP took contol of the glider. After a quick re-assessment
of the situation, the pilot believed the potential existed
to either snap the cable, upset the tow-plane, or have
the cable back-release from the glider; he elected to
release the tow-cable at approximately 50 feet above
the treetops. The glider climbed to 100 feet at which
point the IP set up for an approach to the only useable
field amongst the departure-end trees. The glider's
left wing struck a large tree12 feet above the ground
just prior to touchdown. The glider pivoted around the
tree and came to rest in an upright position on the
ground, oriented 160 degrees to the left of its final
flight path. The student and IP exited the aircraft
uninjured and contacted an overhead tow-plane via radio.
The aircraft received "A" Category damage.
Extensive damage to the left wing, particularly the
leading edge, was noted. The outboard section of the
left wing was folded forward in the horizontal. The
right wing did not appear to have suffered damage externally,
however, it did show evidence of severe skin deformation.
Flight control surfaces on both wings were seized. The
cockpit remained intact and its habitable space was
not compromised. Minor cracking of the overhead cockpit
canopy and numerous punctures of the glider's skin were
noted. The tail section's skin and longerons were deformed.
The investigation is focusing on several human factors
issues, slack tow-cable techniques, and runway departure-end
obstacle clearance heights.
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