UNIONVILLE, PA, USA
N20KG
SCHLEICHER ASW-20
WHILE BEING TOWED DURING TAKEOFF, THE PILOT MOVED THE FLAPS FROM THE NEUTRAL #3 TO THE POSITIVE #4 SETTING AND THE NOSE OF THE GLIDER PITCHED UP. THE PILOT REALIZED THERE WAS NO ELEVATOR CONTROL, THE FLAPS WERE MOVED TO THE #1 (NEGATIVE) SETTING AND THE TWO CABLE WAS RELEASED WHILE THE GLIDER WAS STILL BELOW 100 FT AGL. IT CONTINUED STRAIGHT AHEAD AND COLLIDED WITH TREES AND UNDERBRUSH. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ELEVATOR PUSH ROD WAS DISCONNECTED FROMTHE ELEVATOR. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT DURING THE PREFLIGHT CHECK, THE PUSH ROD PUSHED THE ELEVATOR UP AND DOWN WHEN THESTICK WAS MOVED FORWARD AND AFT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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