# NTSB ERA13CA272: Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-55-1, N81799, Henderson, NC, May 12, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 12, 2013, 16:25 local (20:25 UTC) - Place: Henderson, NC - Coordinates: 36.245277, -78.308891 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2453&lon=-78.3089&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87114 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA272 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87114/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87114 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA272 ## Probable cause A loss of aerodynamic lift that resulted in a forced landing to unsuitable terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-55-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md?model=8821644), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-55-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=8821644), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-55-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=8821644), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-55-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8821644), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-55-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8821644), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had been soaring in his glider for approximately 3 hours. While returning to the airport, the glider encountered a sink and had descended 2,500 feet before the pilot was able to find a more favorable air mass. At that time, the glider was too low to fly to the airport and the pilot elected to land in a field. While on final approach, the pilot noticed that the field had deep ruts; however, he was committed to landing at that point. During the landing, the left wing struck a rut and the glider ground-looped, which partially separated the tailboom. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the glider. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he had been soaring in his glider for approximately 3 hours. While returning to the airport, the glider encountered a sink and had descended 2,500 feet before the pilot was able to find a more favorable air mass. At that time, the glider was too low to fly to the airport and the pilot elected to land in a field. While on final approach, the pilot noticed that the field had deep ruts; however, he was committed to landing at that point. During the landing, the left wing struck a rut and the glider ground-looped, which partially separated the tailboom. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the glider. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N81799](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81799-2013-11-19), registration cancelled 2013-11-19, S/N 551199108, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PDPS PZL-BIELSKO SZD-55-1 - Registry model: [Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-55-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/pdps-pzl-bielsko-szd-55-1) (registry code 8821644) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider, amateur-built - Serial number: 551199108 - Airframe hours: 339 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Zlatko Sitar - Registered owner: Zlatko Sitar - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 30, 2012 - Departed: 79NC, Louisburg, NC - Destination: 79NC, Louisburg, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; last flight review August 4, 2012; seat: single; flight hours: 124 total, 72 in this make and model, 96 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 6 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: HNZ, 12 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20130512009829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130512009829A), May 12, 2013: Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-55-1, Henderson, NC, Substantial damage. Glider aircraft made an off airport landing due to altitude loss. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. Accident occurred on may 12. NTSB or FAA not… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87114. 891 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 748 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394754&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 2, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394755&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Photgraph # 1: Tailboom Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394756&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photgraph%20%23%201%3A%20%20Tailboom%20Damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.