SAFA Skysailor Magazine

35 March | April 2023 SKY SAILOR Forms and Documents SAFA Documents are now available in the Member Zone of the SAFA website . To access them select then select ‘Documents’ in the left-hand menu. These documents are constantly updated, so download them only when required. DO NOT save them for later use. The office will not accept outdated forms. Documents available to the general public are accessible on the website under: ‘Pilot Tools’  Forms & Docs Visiting Pilot Membership Pilots requiring Visiting Pilot Memberships please go to www.safa. asn.au/visiting-international-pilots SAFA Office Manager site and do not delay in changing course to reach it. #1745 – Forced WM emergency landing due propeller de-lamination mid-flight PIC departed from Noosa airfield (Qld/S) in their WM at 6am. With light winds (5kt) from the SE, they flew to Double Island Point. On the return flight, PIC experienced a loud bang and reduced power. PIC immediately made a 180º turn to the nearest safe landing location which was Noosa Bar and executed a safe landing on a large area of sand. There was no injury or damage to persons, property or aircraft; the landing site had two people in the distance, who at no point were in any danger of collision. The aircraft was retrieved a few hours later at low tide. After landing a propeller blade was found to be de-laminated. The local CFI was fully informed of the intended flight prior to take-off and was immediately notified of the incident following the safe landing. Always inspect aircraft regularly and prior to each take-off. Props can sustain damage to their leading edges and tips from foreign materials on run-up and take-off. If the leading edges get damaged, this can cause a delamination of the prop. Ageing can also lead to delamination. Small damage, like chips, can be repaired by the owner. Carbon fibre can be repaired with superglue and carbon powder. Wood can be repaired with baking soda and superglue. Repaired propellers then need to be rebalanced. Damage requiring a large repair would require either that the blade be scrapped or sent to a professional for repair. A complete delamination, such as occurred in this incident, would most likely see the blade scrapped. #1744 – Teewah PG tree landing PIC was ridge-soaring their paraglider at Teewah Beach (Qld/S) in ideal conditions. PIC was 20m in front of the ridge and at an altitude of 15m above the ridge. As they applied the speed bar, the left-side speed bar line had broken, resulting in the left side of the wing col- lapsing 25%. The wing tip then cravatted due to sand accumulated in the trailing edge, causing the wing to turn to the left, back towards the ridge. PIC weight-shifted to the right to try to maintain a heading away from the ridge.