Executive Reports

CEO Update - Accident & incident summaries

Selected Accident & Incidents

During this three month reporting period of 1st July until 30 september 2022 there were 13 Incidents or accidents. In this report the spotlight is on recent coastal flying occurrences.

There has been an interesting trend with pilots grappling with the seasonal pick up in weather, as we move from winter into spring, in particular coastal flying and the strengthening sea breezes. There is a very good AHGPC Facebook article written by the Club Safety Officer Jeremy Watts, and I commend the AHGPC Site Monitor Joe Ward for picking up on site trends, alerting pilots to fly within their skill set and to the conditions.

Special thanks to those that filed reports so we may pick up on trends and learn from other pilots’ experiences – loving the thoughtful pilot reflection and advice. For those pilots unsure whether to file an incident report then please check in with your local Safety Officer or instructor for advice, we are all here to help you get the most out of your flying and keep the flying community safe.

Kia ora koutou pilots.

The committee has received a notification from the Muriwai

Site Monitor, Joe Ward, regarding the increase in incidents at Maukatia in the last month or so. This will be discussed at our next committee meeting.

Beside the two reported incidents are a number of unreported events, amongst which was a pilot being blown down the road while attempting to top land, a water landing in the tide line and various ground handling errors with pilots being pulled around launch and gliders being draped over the rock wall and cars. Both of the particular events mentioned above are worthy of an AIRS report in my opinion.

With regard to ground handling - we cannot stress enough the importance of having good ground handling skills, which ideally should be fine tuned at a site like Kariotahi.

Maukatia is not a site to be found wanting of these skills - it risks doing damage to members of the general public and property, as well as ourselves.

Maukatia is one of our most used sites, being a handy location to the city, and is also one of our most sensitive sites with regard to our members behaviour. We cannot afford to lose this site.

PLEASE take extra time and care in your decision making both on the ground and in the air.

Noho ora mai - PGSO

sept 2022, Paraglider landing approach, No Injuries, equipment Damage: salt water in lines/wing

Human Factors quoted by pilot; Decision Making and Situational Awareness experience: 40 hours Pilots’ first flight at Muriwai in the SW bowl. He spoke to a local who suggested launching about half way down. To avoid the rock wall and spectators. Took off in light wind and turned to the left. Flew to the start of the cliff and turned back, then came to the bowl where the pilot turned back and went on landing approach. It was close to high tide and the landing ended up being in the water. The pilot was about calf deep in the water and got out without injury. Minor damage being a bit of salt water throughout the gear.

Pilot advice:

It may not be the best site for a beginner. Be sure to check the amount of landing area you have.

sept 2022, Paraglider, No Injuries

Human Factors quoted by pilot; Situational Awareness experience: 200 hours Caught in rotor at Maori Bay with wind direction change, forced to land on slope above cliff face next to carpark. Landed in a reverse mode as rotor dropped me to the only grassed area. Situational awareness, and lack of reassessing the changing wind direction led to allowing myself to fly too close to a dangerous location in search of lift.

Pilot advice:

Situational Awareness with wind direction and strength is to be respected and monitored. This can immediately create zones which were once flyable to extremely dangerous in a matter of a simple wind direction change. Situation awareness is required when flying near land masses where a situation of rotor is quickly and devastating created which can cause an aircraft to be come unflyable. Enjoy, but always be aware of our surroundings. Fly safe.

sept 2022 Paraglider No Injuries

Human Factors quoted by pilot; Decision making, Inadequate training, Situational Awareness experience: 36 hours Got caught in the venturi immediately after taking [off] only to get blown back into the lee side. The wind was about 15-16kts on the ground at the time, conditions were laminar airflow tunnelling through the narrow area in Maori Bay without much punchiness or turbulence present. There were 2 other pilots up in the air at that time (1 tandem and 1 C class glider). The wind at the take-off felt strong but was still under my limit of take-off skills. My plan was to take off and go as far as possible towards the sea where I do my figure 8s at the edge of the lift band.. The take-off went smoothly, however I got pinned immediately at the bowl (where the venturi was at the strongest). It was a wrong move I should have either steered to the left OR not taken off at all at that time. However after 30 minutes of parawaiting on the take-off area and observing other wings fly I thought I’d give it a crack, and then the incident took place. I was lucky to come out of it unscathed but my misjudgement of the wind strength above take-off at the time would have cost me severe consequences. While I was drifting back at about 3-5kmh and I was on about 60% speed bar (another thing that i need to be comfortable is practice using the full speed range of my glider) at the time. There was not enough height for me to turn and burn (make the transition towards the beach), so I was planning on aiming for the tree tops for a soft landing as the worst case scenario. I’ve been practising the ‘butterfly landing’/flapping technique to burn off height in close proximity to ground. Luckily there was no turbulence at the lee side where i was at on top of the hill. The area beneath me was sloping further down without much landing space behind me, and I was quite confident with the active flying on my wing and know the stall point of my glider, and was able to use the butterfly technique for my advantage which seemed to work out well for me without putting myself in a stall/spin situation. Nonetheless I was so relieved to come out of it in unharmed. It was a scary experience which could have potentially been avoided if I did not have misjudged the strength of the wind at the time. In short summary it was the venturi + misjudgement of wind strength and the decision to take-off at that time that got me. This situation could have been avoided but as a low airtime pilot I’m learning as I go and this was definitely a scary and humbling experience.

Pilot advice:

Few things I intend to do from now on: - Make it a habit to check Holfuy weather station moments before deciding to launch. (Especially on windy days when you should not be relying exclusively on the wind strength you feel on the ground, which can be somewhat deceiving like how I found out in this case..) - Practice and get good with using the full range of speed on my glider.

sept 2022, Paraglider Descent Manoeuvre, No Injuries

Human Factors quoted by pilot; Decision Making and Situational Awareness experience: 72 hours I was returning to Kariotahi high side from the Awhitu Peninsular lighthouse. I had been through a fairly significant shower. I had been on the speed bar for about 15 minutes solidly and had pulled big ears several times to try to avoid the shower and to get lower. I had been out of the shower for about 10 minutes. I pulled big ears without speed bar and stayed on big ears for about 10 seconds. I released both big ears at the same time and shortly after that I noticed there was no wind noise. Then I noticed that I was going backwards and down and started to spiral to the left. I did one and a half circles before hitting the cliff face about ¾ of the way up, about 2km north of the high side launch of Kariotahi. There was no vegetation – just clay / rocks. Impact was extraordinarily light – almost like a normal landing and I almost stayed on my feet. I collected my gear, walked up the cliff and hill side to a clearing. I examined my gear, ground handled, launched and flew to the high side launch. I met an Instructor there and discussed the incident. I launched and flew to Maioro, returned and landed at the car park. I met the Club Safety officer there and discussed the incident with him.

Pilot advice:

Don’t fly in showers. Land and stay dry. If you do get wet, land and walk home. If you do get wet and are still airborne, be careful, don’t pull big ears, be ready to go to speed bar to lower the angle of attack or gently pull the A-lines. Release big ears slowly and carefully and one at a time. Pilot thanks to the local Instructor and Club Safety Officer for the in depth discussion on the day. Special thanks also for calling the next day to check if I was okay.

How to report an accident or incident

What to report?

You must report as soon as practical anything that is defined as an “Accident” by CAA rules. That is anything that caused significant damage or serious injuries while the aircraft is being used. Club safety officers and other pilots can help out here by reporting even basic information about an accident for pilots that are unable to do it themselves.

We also want reports for incidents or accidents that aren’t so serious. The biggest benefit comes from the reporting of the smaller incidents and near misses. How small? Well, if good luck is all that saved you from an accident then it’s probably worth reporting.

Your personal details will be kept confidential. How?

To make a report go to the NZHGPA website and click on ”Safety”. www.nzhgpa.org.nz/safety

Then the button to hit for starting your report looks like this;

Your description of what happened is the most important part and makes up the majority of the reports we publish but other details are used to help with statistics that show trends so please complete as much as you can. Please include the location so we can send the report to the local safety officer and the club president for any follow up they need to do. Don’t worry, our policy is that we do not use the reports to lay blame or for any disciplinary action. They are for safety and learning.

Finally if you want to see other reports then click on this button;

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For other NZHGPA membership sponsored benefits visit the NZHGPA Members Area had an accident in France and could not be saved. She flew until the end and made the most of the life she had through trips, time spent with friends and family and a myriad of sports. Her life was a reminder of how many opportunities exist around us and how important it is to take those opportunities when you can.

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Charlotte began her paragliding journey during the pandemic and quickly became an avid pilot always keen to improve her technique. One of her goals was to fly from Queenstown to Wānaka and while she didn’t accomplish that task, she did manage an epic flight off of Treble Cone last summer. Charlotte would often spend her lunch breaks flying the gondola or sneak a flight off Coronet Peak before her shift as a doctor began.

In the community, she could be found helping others whether that be asking that newer pilots be added to the frinwge WhatsApp groups, resetting people’s gliders after a failed launch or acting as a first responder to PG related incidents.

Her other hobbies included gymnastics, working out, and going on missions when the wind was too strong to fly. She did not enjoy cooking, but she did love a veggie pizza from Frank’s.

Charlotte took a trip to Europe in May to continue flying as the season slowed down here. During the last week of the trip, she

nico sand

On the 22nd of August 2022, Nicolas “Nico” Sand passed away during a cross country flight in France. Nico was multitalented, dedicated, and ever helpful. His quiet confidence as an instructor put calmness is the hearts of his paragliding students and sharing his knowledge allowed many to join the skies with us.

Nico won the 2019 Leo Geary trophy for the “Most Outstanding Up And Coming Pilot in NZ Competition”, was Second in the 2022 AcroFest and held critical positions over the years in the Southern Club and NZHGPA including Secretary, Safety Officer, managed ZHF, Gondola Certifications and WoF examinations. He will long be appreciated, remembered and loved.

Our hearts are with his partner Carly, friends, family, and extended whānau in both his homes of Belgium and New Zealand. - Tim Shoultz

Photo; Carly Elle

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