SAFA Skysailor Magazine

44 SKY SAILOR May | June 2022 AIRS #1471 – Misjudged launch PIC was launching a paraglider from Wilson’s Peak, near Toowoomba (QLD/Sth). This was their fifth flight on this new wing. Conditions were not ideal as the wind had dropped, and as a result the wing did not come fully overhead. The wing became fully inflated as they ran off, but the left wingtip snagged a tree. In response, PIC applied brake on the opposite (right) side. The wing cleared, but dropped trying to gain airspeed, and the tip snagged a second lower tree. This time the wing stalled but stayed open as PIC fell heavily to the ground from 5m agl. PIC landed on their back across a 5cm diameter branch, hitting rocks with their elbow. No damage to equip- ment. Muscular trauma to back from neck to tibia. Various cuts and bruised bone in elbow. Always be aware of your surroundings when launching from small launches. Be aware of any dangers and act accordingly. Ensure the wing is fully inflated before committing to the launch. Let’s head out west… AIRS #1513 – Failed take off PIC has set up to launch their hang glider from Mt Rennie (Geraldton, WA). After performing all of the normal pre-flight checks, they moved with assistance to the launch position. When ready, the nose-wire person let go and moved clear, but noticed the pilot had changed from down-tube grip to the basebar. As the pilot moved forward into launch, the nose came up resulting in the left wing dropping and allowing the right wing to lift up; the glider then turned over. PIC hit the ground only a few feet away from launch, finding themselves on top of their left arm. A fractured arm resulted. Mt Rennie is a flat-top table, and the take-off is more difficult than it looks. It is a cliff launch and any wind coming up the cliff will cause the nose to lift as the edge is reached. Take the time to evaluate the conditions at the cliff edge prior to launching. There will also be significantly more rotored air behind launch. Pilots should ensure they have the appropriate aircraft controls in hand for launch for the conditions at this site. The site guide entry for Mt Rennie deserves careful consideration. AIRS #1512 – Engine failure PIC was flying their Airborne XT-912-B near Exmouth (WA). The pilot was unable to maintain height due to a loss of engine power. The PIC was able to make a safe landing with no serious consequence. There was a blockage in the carburettor main jet caused by flaking of the float arm pin. On further investigation, it was discovered that there existed a Service Bulletin (SB-912-048) regarding this issue. It was missed during maintenance checks because the SB was issued (2005) before the date of manufacture of the aircraft (2006) therefore a presumption was that the aircraft manufacturer would have dealt with this before sale. It seems the engine was an older unit, and the issue was not observed and rectified by the manufacturer before installation and dispatch. A procedure has since been put into place to interrogate all SBs issued, even prior to the date of manufacture to ensure compliance. AIRS Safety Wrap-up