Sail Plane
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Glider
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 1140
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Excursion Runway
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
I was gliding on the local ridge in a G109B motor glider. The rudder came loose in a turn after approximately 45 minutes of flight. The engine had been off for approximately 30 minutes. I completed the turn and luckily was lined up for a straight-in landing at the airport. I was able to glide on the ridge toward the airport and then descend to land using airbrakes. Upon landing without a functional rudder; the longitudinal axis aligned the plane into the left crosswind. Landing slightly misaligned with the runway caused some side-loading. I used the rudder to try and provide steering when the tail wheel contacted the ground. This helped straighten the airplane longitudinal axis with the runway; but likely exacerbated any issues with the rudder. I allowed the airplane to drift into the 'grass runway' used by gliders on the north side of the paved runway as I tried to brake and slow the airplane. The rudder came off about 20 yards from my final stopping point. The airplane was clear of the runway in the grass. I exited the aircraft; picked up the rudder and then taxied the motor glider across the runway over to my assigned tie-down space. My local A&P was working on another airplane and we then spent some time discussing the incident.
Motor glider pilot experienced a 'loose' rudder during a turn with the engine off and turned towards a near by airport. After landing the rudder separated from the aircraft.