SAFA Skysailor Magazine

44 SKY SAILOR July | August 2023 AIRS Safety Wrap-up the HG were subjected to severe turbulence. PIC was unable to release the tow in time and experienced a lockout. PIC was then able to release the tow, but in doing so the HG pitched up to vertical and then tumbled backwards. PIC deployed their reserve, which was caught in the dead air behind the descending, inverted wing. Wing and pilot then impacted terrain with destruction of the aircraft and PIC sustaining significant injuries to the l/h side of their body. On any aerotow release, the HG pilot must be prepared to counter the aircraft pitch-up. This will be more pronounced when towing at higher speeds behind WM tug aircraft. If the tug is observed entering turbulent air, be prepared to release the tow immediately. #1652 – HG aerotow accident, Qld/S PIC was on their fifth aerotow flight on their own double-surface hang glider whilst un- dergoing training to attain the endorsement. It was early morning with benign conditions. The tug pilot had signalled to PIC to detach from the tow, at approx 1300ft agl. The tow pilot noticed the glider yaw 10-15 degrees to the left and assumed PIC had released. The glider rolled to the left before pitching up and then rolling onto its back. The left wing folded up as the glider descended in an anti-clockwise spiral inverted. PIC was trapped inside the air- frame and unable to deploy their reserve. The aircraft impacted the ground and PIC sustained significant, life-threatening injuries requiring ICU treatment. The glider was destroyed. Pilots are advised to conduct all initial aerotow training operations on a floater (single surface) hang glider until completely competent and comfortable in this type of operation, and able to control oscillations and release mechanism. Aerotow training should be conducted with two separate release mechanisms that can be activated independently. One of these should have a release line, or operating control method, attached directly and continuously to one hand to allow for a tow release with minimal disruption to control of the glider by removing the need to remove the hand from the control bar. #1750 – Knot in PG lines causing a tree landing, Vic PIC has inflated their paraglider in a forward launch at Mystic (Vic). They noticed a lack of pressure on the right-hand side and observed the wingtip not fully inflated. PIC elected to continue the launch, but once in the air was unable to inflate the wing fully; at this stage the pilot was heading for the trees and pre- pared for impact. PIC impacted two trees before ending up upside-down in a third tree, with an ankle caught between two branches. Their ankle became loose, and the pilot fell 15- 25m to the ground sustaining multiple, serious fractures including to multiple vertebrae. Paraglider pilots should remain aware that light wind front launches demand a solid pre-flight check, a check that all lines are cleared and very good launch techniques, which should incorporate a final check of the deployed canopy before committing to the launch run.