SAFA Skysailor Magazine

39 November | December 2024 SKY SAILOR #1599 – PG on 9/11/21, Crackneck, NSW PIC was flying their paraglider in company at Crackneck (NSW). They experienced an asym- metric collapse whilst performing wingovers, which they were able to recover from. Approx- imately 20 minutes later, a second asymmetric collapse of the left wingtip occurred, however, this time it collapsed through the lines, causing a spin. As PIC attempted to regain control of the glider, their lines became crossed, pulling in the right wingtip, and they came down ver- tically. This happened at a low height, leaving little time to recover. Luckily, the pilot made a soft landing without injury. The wing involved was quite old and PIC has since retired it. Always ensure you have sufficient margin for error when performing manoeuvres. The condition of wings in regular use, particularly in coastal environments, should be checked regularly (annually), and the wing retired if there is significant degradation of the material. Porosity and tear strength of the material should be within safe limits. Lines should be checked for shrink or stretch to ensure the wing structure is within trim specifications. #1600 – PG accident report, Mt Broughton, Vic PIC was flying at Mt Broughton (Vic) and coming into land after flying in thermic