HELENDALE, CA, USA
N1379
Bölkow PHOEBUS C
DURING A LONG CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE REQUIRED LIFT TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE PILOT SELECTED A SUITABLE OFF-AIRPORT FIELD TO LAND. HIS GROUND CREW REPORTED WINDS FROM THE SOUTH AT 5 KNOTS AND UPSLOPING TERRAIN TOWARD THE NORTH. THE PILOT CHOSE TO LAND DOWNWIND IN AN UPHILL DIRECTION. THE WINDS WERE STRONGER THAN THE GROUND CREW INDICATED AND THE GLIDER LANDED LONG. THE PILOT SAID BRAKING ACTION WAS POOR DUE TO THE LOOSE SAND ON A HARD SOIL BASE. BEFORE THE PILOT COULD STOP THE GLIDER, IT SLID INTO A DRY WASH AND COLLIDED WITH A DIRT WALL. THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT HE OBSERVED THE WINDS FROM 180 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS WITH HIGHER GUSTS TO 13 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.
On May 20, 1995, at 1530 hours Pacific daylight time, a Bolcow Phoebus C glider, N1379, collided with a desert dry wash during the ground run of a forced landing near Helendale, California. The glider was being operated by the pilot/owner as a personal flight. The glider was substantially damaged. The certificated private pilot was not injured. The flight originated at Crystal Airport in Llano, California, at 1215 hours for a cross-country toward Las Vegas, Nevada. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. In his written report, the pilot stated that "near Helendale, the required lift was not available" for continued flight and he was forced to land. Initially, the pilot intended to land at the Palisades private airport; however, his ground crew reported that the gate was locked. He then selected a suitable off-airport field adjacent to the airstrip. The pilot stated that the ground crew informed him the winds were "at 180 degrees at 5 knots." The selected field slopes uphill to the north, so the pilot chose a north downwind landing uphill. The pilot said the glider touched down beyond his intended touchdown point due to a stronger than reported tail wind. Braking action was poor during the landing roll due to the sandy, hard soil of the field. The glider overran the selected area, and rolled downhill into a wash at 20 mph. The pilot attempted to ground loop the glider to prevent entering the wash; however, the glider slid into the wash wing first. The pilot stated that after the accident he observed the winds from 180 degrees at 10 knots with higher gusts to 13 knots. The pilot reported no mechanical failures of the flight controls.
the pilot's selection of a downwind landing and his failure to attain the proper touchdown point. Factors in the accident were the inaccurate wind information provided by his ground crew which led the pilot to select the improper landing direction, and, the loose sandy nature of the landing site which inhibited the effectiveness of the glider brakes.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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