Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Glider
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 48; Flight Crew Total 1811; Flight Crew Type 250
Conflict NMAC; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure
The mission of this glider flight was to perform a simulated premature release (aka: rope break) at an intermediate altitude. I was instructing from the back seat; and my student was flying from the front seat. Surface wind was light out of the west; with stronger winds aloft expected. Ceiling and visibility were unrestricted. Appropriate flight path arrangements were made with the tow pilot and we departed from the grass parallel to Runway XX. We made a right turnout and continued to climb to the north/northwest. At about 600' AGL (1000' MSL) I pulled the tow release to begin the simulation; and made a radio call on CTAF warning that we were returning to the airport; opposite departure traffic; performing a simulated emergency. My expectation at this point that the student would make a left turn; into the wind; establish an approach speed; and evaluate the best route back to the Runway XX. I expected he would essentially fly a base leg at an odd angle to adjust his altitude so that the turn to final and glide to landing would be normal. However; the student; instead turned right and aimed directly toward the runway threshold. Since the student was advanced; preparing for his private pilot checkride; and had performed well on simulated emergencies in the past; I allowed him to continue to see what he had in mind - there's always more than one solution. In general I prefer to let students discover their own mistakes and devise solutions - as long as the situation does not become dangerous. For whatever reason; the student did not realize that he would arrive extremely high and he proceeded directly to the runway threshold with no spoilers or attempt to loose altitude. We arrived at an estimated 400+feet AGL. I made an additional radio call at this point; announcing 'Short final; Runway XX'. At this point I started suggesting corrections; such as to get the spoilers fully deployed. Still not descending enough; I suggested a slip. The student went into a mild slip; and then a more aggressive slip. I was sure we'd arrive safely near mid-field at this point; but that's when the next factor entered the equation and I spotted a white gyrocopter departing from the paved portion of runway XX. I never heard any radio calls from the departing traffic. I noted that in the aggressive slip we were drifting left; towards the paved runway; and suggested the student correct this. A moment later with no movement to the right; I nudged the stick right to give the student a clue. I had my eyes on the departing traffic as we approached the ground; and my last good memory is the student coming out of the slip and abruptly into his landing flare a bit too high. What happened after that is conjecture on my part; partly from what I think happened and partly from speaking to the student and observers afterwards. The student reported that the 'stick suddenly moved forward'. I suspect that was me jumping in and trying to arrest the flare and maintain speed. However; with the plane in a high drag configuration; I believe his rapid flare caused an accelerated stall approximately 5' above the runway. Several people reported the plane 'dropped down' in a level attitude. My next actual memory was coming to a stop with my back in extreme pain from the hard touch down. The hard landing was due to last minute maneuvering near the ground to avoid oncoming departing traffic. I use a hand held radio in our NORDO gliders. I was making radio calls and the radio was in my hand near my ear; so I was easily hearing other incoming traffic; etc. I heard no call from the departing gyrocopter. I generally do not initiate simulated emergencies when other aircraft are waiting to depart. The student later told me he did not see the departing gyrocopter and did not understand the urgency to my insistence on moving right. Perhaps my mistake was not declaring 'my airplane' at that point and taking over the flight controls. My eye was on our proximity to the traffic until it passed; and by then it was too late. Of course; I had every reason to expect my student to fly to a correct landing at that point. In retrospect he may have been over loaded. I deliberately passed up several opportunities early in the glide to correct the entire approach. My feeling at the time was to allow the student to make his mistakes and see the results. We would then have a lot to talk about during our post flight debrief. This allowed little margin for the unexpected; such as departing traffic in the opposing direction.
Glider instructor reported experiencing a hard landing by his student after taking evasive action to avoid a departing aircraft.