SAFA SkySailor Magazine

32 SKY SAILOR March | April 2024 AIRS Safety Wrap-up The pilot briefly tried going ‘hands up’ and shortly after, moderate brake application on both sides which seemed to have no effect. They rotated quickly in this position through 4 or 5 ‘flat spin’ rotations with both tips still tucked. Rapidly running out of altitude, PIC decided to throw the reserve even though they judged it was too low for it to be effective. The reserve deployed successfully and 4-5 seconds later they landed in the water. The pilot then used their hook knife to cut themselves free of all lines and harness webbing. However, some lines had wrapped around an ankle which the pilot was unable to free themselves from. These caused PIC to be dragged back into the sea and it was only with assistance from onlookers and another pilot that had landed, that they were freed with much difficulty, and in an exhausted state. The glider, harness and reserve were recovered from the sea. PIC was perfectly placed to practice this manoeuvre: high over water; and also took the correct action when unable to recover wing control: deployed their reserve. What saved them was carrying and using a hook knife. As described, a water landing can be an exhausting experience with fatal consequences if things go badly. Referring to Pal Takats’ ‘Just Acro’ website entry for the Helicopter trick : “If the rotation is stable, it’s very simple to exit. Just centre your body, release the brake and control the following surge, which is usually a bit asymmetrical. You can also exit by pulling down the outside brake (but don’t stall it!) and release the negative a little bit, until the glider stops. Then let it shoot forward and brake the surge. At the beginning, the safest way could be to pull down both brakes and Full Stall the glider. Now we head east to South Australia. #1699 – HG rock landing, Ochre Point, SA PIC was flying their hang glider at Ochre Point (SA), a site they are very familiar with, in an 18kt wind from the WNW. On setting up for a top-landing, they realised that they were too low and attempted to go around. PIC turned the glider too far to the south and en- countered sink and a strong wind, abandoned the go-around and aimed for a beach landing. They assessed that this also could not be accomplished and opted for a landing on rocks in order to avoid a water-landing. In the course of landing, the pilot received a bruised elbow, whilst the glider sustained damaged downtubes and basebar and damage to the trailing edge of the sail. This site is predominantly flown in W-SSW winds, so the different wind direction requires re-assessment for launch and landing requirements. Avoid becoming fixated on a particular landing option, particularly if a safer option is attainable.