Sail Plane
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 14; Flight Crew Total 1150; Flight Crew Type 60
Situational Awareness; Fatigue
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Human Factors
Test flight of Schweizer SGS-2-33 glider after Annual Inspection at ZZZ1 shows that spoilers are difficult to operate and are especially difficult to 'Close' if fully deployed. Mechanic who did the Annual Inspection cannot resolve issue and suggests doing it at next Annual Inspection. Decided that issue is not big enough; not to aero tow glider back to ZZZ (42 NM distance). Weather at ZZZ is completely clear but very gusty and turbulent. On final I did 'Open' spoilers and opened them fully by mistake. Gusty headwind requires reducing amount of spoilers deployed; but I am unable to close them and have to land with fully open spoilers. Approach end of Runway XX is known to be tricky in terms of downdrafts and I clear the threshold okay; but not with enough margin to be comfortable.  Aero tow of SGS-2-33 from ZZZ1 to ZZZ was choppy due to strong thermal activities and gusty wind conditions. Fatigue; due to strenuous tow and dehydration may have contributed to not being able to 'Close' spoilers on short final.  I should not have towed the glider back [to ZZZ] knowing that the spoilers are hard to close; and should have had the issue fixed at the maintenance facility first.
Reporter stated the spoilers are located at the wing trailing edge and split with one panel moving up and the other panel dropping down below the wing trailing edge on each wing. The Spoiler handle has two positions: Closed or fully 'Open'.  Pilots can also hold the handle and position the spoilers anywhere in between. He had misjudged the gusty and turbulent wind conditions and the situation was made worse by his mistakenly deploying the spoilers to the full 'Open' position.  He later learned the wings and fuselage came from two different aircraft causing some of the rigging problems the previous Repair Station was unabled to resolve. The spoiler issue has been corrected. The tow aircraft was a Maule.
A pilot decides to ferry his Schweizer SGS 2-33 glider back to Base with spoilers that were difficult to operate and especially difficult to 'Close' if fully deployed.  On final; after release from aero tow; he fully opens spoilers by mistake; realizes he cannot close them and lands with spoilers fully deployed.