Sunday, October 07, 2012

Schleicher ASH 25Mi, N513WK: Accident occurred October 07, 2012 in Kamuela, Hawaii

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Docket And Docket Items   -   National Transportation Safety Board: http://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

Aviation Accident Data Summary  -  National Transportation Safety Board: http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

http://registry.faa.gov/N513WK

NTSB Identification: WPR13LA007  
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, October 07, 2012 in Kamuela, HI
Probable Cause Approval Date: 11/06/2013
Aircraft: SCHLEICHER ASH25M, registration: N513WK
Injuries: 1 Serious.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot reported that on the day of the accident the weather was marginal, with low clouds and shifting wind. He took off in the motorized glider and then stowed the engine. About 1 mile northwest of the airport, the pilot realized that the wind was not conducive to convective activity, and the glider started to descend. The pilot turned back toward the airport and extended the engine/propeller to restart the engine; however, the engine would not start. The pilot entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern and lowered the landing gear. As the pilot was turning from the downwind to the base leg of the traffic pattern, the left wing of the glider stalled; the glider subsequently impacted the ground and cart-wheeled before coming to a rest in a field. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he believed the accident occurred because "everything happened so fast,” and he was unable to use a checklist.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the glider after it encountered atmospheric conditions while maneuvering where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, which resulted in a stall and impact with terrain during the subsequent approach to land.

On October 7, 2012, about 1030 Hawaiian standard time, a Schleicher ASH-25M glider, N513WK, landed approximately 1 mile short of the runway at the Waimea-Kohala airport (PHMU), Kamuela, Hawaii. The private pilot sustained serious injuries; the glider sustained substantial damage to both wings. The glider was registered to, and operated by, the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight that departed PHMU at approximately 1000.

The pilot reported that on the day of the accident the weather was marginal with low clouds. The wind was shifting between a trade wind and a westerly wind. He took off from runway 22, and shortly thereafter stowed the engine. About 1 mile northwest of the airport about 500 feet above the ground, the wind had not changed back to a trade wind and the glider was not getting adequate lift. The pilot turned back towards the airport, and raised the engine pylon to restart the engine, however, the engine would not start. He entered the traffic pattern, and while on the downwind leg, he noted that the glider would not make it to the runway. Given a lack of adequate emergency landing sites around the airport, he elected to still attempt to land on the runway. The pilot lowered the landing gear and turned to base when he felt the left wing stall. The wing subsequently contacted the ground damaging an approximate 4 foot section of the left wing’s outboard leading edge. The glider cartwheeled before coming to a rest in a field.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board Investigator-In-Charge, the pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the engine as it was running about 5-10 minutes prior to the accident. He mentioned that he believes it was an operational error because everything was happening so fast he was unable to use a checklist.

According to the “ASH 25 Mi flight manual”, it states that it is possible to land the glider with the engine/propeller extended; but to expect a higher than normal sink rate. The manual also states that in the event of an engine failure, if a crash landing is imminent that it is best to retract the powerplant to at least the halfway point to increase the glide distance, which will potentially allow for a better emergency landing site.


 NTSB Identification: WPR13LA007
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, October 07, 2012 in Kamuela, HI
Aircraft: SCHLEICHER ASH25M, registration: N513WK
Injuries: 1 Serious.
 

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On October 7, 2012 about 1007 Hawaiian standard time, a Schleicher ASH-25M glider, N513WK, landed approximately 1 mile short of the runway at the Waimea-Kohala Airport (PHMU), Kamuela, Hawaii. The private pilot sustained serious injuries. The glider was registered to, and operated by, the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight that departed PHMU at approximately 1000.

Witnesses reported that as the self-launching glider entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 22, they observed the glider’s retractable propeller in the up position; however, it was not spinning. Witnesses further reported that they could not hear any engine or propeller noise from their location. The glider made a steep turn to the base leg and the left wing tip struck the ground. Subsequently, the glider cart wheeled and came to rest in a field.

 

 WAIMEA, Hawaii: One man was injured when a motorized glider crashed 150 yards southeast of the runway at the Waimea Airport on Hawaii Island, fire officials say.

The 80 year old pilot  was taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital where he is in stable condition.

The Carbon Fiber Motorized Glider model ASH 25 MI reportedly suffered an engine failure during its approach to landing around 10 a.m. on Sunday. According to the fire dispatch:

    “During approach to land while in Glider mode, pilot experienced inadequate lift while turning from downwind to base leg of landing pattern. Pilot attempted to start engine in an attempt to make it to the runway, but the engine failed to start, resulting in a forced landing in a pasture approximately 150 yards South East of the Runway.”

Officials say the glider sustained moderate damage to the empennage, fuselage, landing gear, wing and tail sections. It is valued at approximately $250,000.

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