BFO94LA083

The pilot reported that the glider suddenly pitched up as he descended through the 'start gate' at a glider competition. He admitted that the pitch-up was 'probably pilot induced.' He stated that he then heard a loud cracking noise and his hand-held radio fell loose in the cockpit. He attempted to retrieve the radio, but it broke through the canopy. The pilot decided to exit the airplane after failed attempts to regain control. He released himself from the seat restraints and fell through the plexiglass canopy. He deployed his parachute and landed in a tree, and then fell from the tree onto the ground, causing serious injuries. The unmanned glider impacted terrain inverted and was substantially damaged. No mechanical malfunctions with the flight controls, canopy, or seat restraint systems were found.

On June 1, 1994, about 1420 eastern daylight time, N166W, a Shemp Hirth Ventus-C glider, operated by the owner/pilot, impacted terrain in Fairfield, Pennsylvania, during an uncontrolled descent. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot, the sole occupant, received serious injuries after falling out of the airplane while performing a maneuver. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight was initiated via aero tow from the Mid Atlantic Soaring Center in Fairfield, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The pilot reported that he was participating in a soaring competition at the time of the accident. He descended through the "start gate" to achieve an airspeed of 110 knots. He reported that he then "... encountered [a] sudden pitch up, probably induced by the pilot and turbulence." He subsequently "experienced heavy positive G-load and heard loud cracking sound." His hand-held radio fell loose and he tried to retrieve it. He stated that he then experienced negative Gs and an abrupt pull-up. The radio broke through the canopy. The pilot stated that he could not regain control of the glider, so he released his restraint system and fell free of the airplane through the canopy Plexiglas. He deployed his parachute and landed in a tree. He then fell about 30 feet from the tree and onto the ground, causing serious injuries. According to an FAA aviation safety inspector from New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, the glider continued to descend out of control without the pilot. It impacted terrain inverted about 3/4 miles from the pilot's landing area. An inspection of the glider revealed that both wings were buckled. The canopy frame and supporting structure remained intact, and the Plexiglas in the center of the canopy was broken. The flight controls, canopy and restraint systems were functionally tested with no mechanical deficiencies noted.