SAFA Skysailor Magazine

48 SKY SAILOR November | December 2021 pulled the left brake to head up the coast. As the glider turned, PIC noticed the brake line felt strange and pulled again. After releasing left brake, the glider continued to turn left towards the ridge. PIC noticed that there was no tension in the left brake, then noticed the half hitch – left brake was locked on at about 50%. PIC used weight-shift right and right rear riser to turn away from the ridge in a slow turn. By the time PIC completed a 180-degree turn, they were below take-off and heading south along the ridge. Other pilots flying north were yelling to keep left. PIC was low and below them and trying to keep stable flight south. When PIC reached the south take-off area, they were below the lower high-wind take-off area and kept heading straight to the LZ. PIC arrived at the lagoon and made a slow turn to the right, then once arrived at the grass area, made a slow turn to left. PIC then made a straight into wind landing without event. All manoeuvres were done with left brake locked on 50%. Weight-shifting and rear riser steering were all that could be used. Everything was done slowly to keep the stability of flight. PIC managed the incident well post brake-line snagging, using skills to counter-shift/counter- brake to fly a desired course without stalling the glider. Incident was caused primarily by PIC releasing (but not stowing) the break handle/s, leading to break line wrapping around/ within components of the risers. This action was preceded by PIC’s perceived need to use hands to ‘wriggle’ into harness after launch. PIC acknowledges the brake line snag was a direct result of not managing the brake handle by stowing it, or by taking both brake handles in opposite hand prior to correcting seating position with freed hand. No follow up required. AIRS #1328: A-line snapped on PPG wing The experienced pilot was flying a paramotor at Manilla (NSW). After obtaining some height, PIC carried out some wingovers, and whilst exiting the wingovers, lost some of the energy and entered a spiral. Whilst in the spiral, one of the inner A-lines snapped at approximately 70mm above the mallion, causing the wing to lock into a spiral dive. The pilot tried to coun- ter-brake to exit the spiral dive, but to no avail, and made the decision to throw his reserve. It opened quickly with the pilot approximately 50m AGL. The pilot landed under reserve on his feet, then fell back onto the frame of the paramo- tor. The pilot walked away, with a sore lower back, and some bending to the frame of para- motor. The pilot drove to Tamworth hospital, had a CT scan, and was given the all-clear of no damage to lower back. This was an equipment failure – spirals and wingovers exert extreme G-forces on the pilot and equipment, and paramotors generally carry a high wing loading. The outcome of this incident was good – flying with a current packed reserve suitable for the combined weight of pilot and paramotor – and the pilot reacted quickly. The pilot had the reserve re-packed within the last three months. With such a low reserve throw, a reserve that has not been re-packed regularly may not have opened as quickly and the outcome could have been a tragedy. Be prepared to throw and throw as early as possible. AIRS Safety Wrap-up