SAFA Skysailor Magazine

42 SKY SAILOR September | October 2021 AIRS #1346 – Accident cause: lost nyloc PIC is a very experienced local pilot and has launched their hang glider from Rex Lookout (near Cairns, Qld/N). The pre-take off in- spection and hang check had revealed nothing untoward. Launch was perfect into 16kt ESE. They immediately rolled to the right after take-off, as normal, and gained height on the first pass. The witness then turned to attend to their aircraft when they heard a crash. The pilot had impacted terrain about 40m SW from launch. Upon inspection of the aircraft, it was observed that the Nyloc holding the right-side wire was missing. Fractures to tibia and fibula resulted. Pilots should replace all nylocs when conducting maintenance tasks and nylocs have been removed. When this pilot had replaced the side wire, they had not replaced the nyloc with a new unit. Nylocs, or nylon locking nuts, are a nut with a pressed nylon insert. On fitting, the thread of the bolt ‘bites’ into the nylon and due to the friction between the bolt and the nylon, provides a locking mechanism. Nylocs can be reused, but within limits. The nyloc must be able to meet a torque setting when attempting to unwind. Further, they should not be installed where temperatures exceed 120ºC. After the nut has been tightened the bolt or stud must have at least one thread showing past the nut. More information concerning nylocs can be found in this document from the FAA: Link Go to Chapter 7 Section 4: Nuts. You will find the unwind torque settings in a table there. AIRS #1351 – Rainbow Beach collision PIC1 was flying their paraglider at Rainbow Beach (SE Qld). PIC2 was on launch in the Carlo Sand Blow. Weather conditions were NE 10 to 12kt, perfect for the site. PIC1 had set up an approach to land on the north-side of the Blow. After a few S-turns to lose some height, they noticed another pilot on the same set up to also land on the northern side of the blow; this pilot had set up to land to the southern side of PIC1. PIC1 also noticed some pilots setting up ready to launch in front of where they planned to land. PIC2 carried out a reverse launch. Whilst inflating the glider, they were picked up off their feet while still facing the glider. PIC2 then applied a large amount of brake, causing the glider to enter a steep banked turn toward the centre of the Blow, which in turn spun the glider 180-degrees, resulting in the risers untwisting and PIC2 facing the correct flight orientation with the glider. PIC2 was then heading downwind towards PIC1. PIC1 tried to take evasive action and turned towards the north side of the Blow. PIC2’s right wing-tip impacted PIC1’s knees (which were lifted to try and avoid the wing), causing PIC1 to spin 90-degrees towards the northern side of the Blow. PIC1 impacted the ground with some force and suffered some scratches to the left side of their face and helmet. Also, the left side of their body suffered from the impact. PIC2 impacted the ground with some speed and relatively hard. The wing was in level flight, downwind. The harness had absorbed a lot of the impact and the pilot remained unhurt. Both pilots walked away with no serious injuries. AIRS Safety Wrap-up