Executive Repor ts Selected Accident & Incident Summaries from 1st July 2020 to 30 September 2020 These summaries are a selection taken from members reports supplied via the NZHGPA reporting system AIRS. 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;
Date Region Type Aircraft 21/8/2020 Southern Near miss or minor incident (minor or no damage, no injury) Paraglider Paraglider pilot PG2; On landing I was worried about overshooting, I had half brake on and believe I let off the brakes causing my wing to surge forward. I had a very hard landing, I rolled my ankle and landed on my knees with the wing overshooting me. Date Region Type Aircraft 22/08/2020 Wellington Near miss or minor incident (minor or no damage, no injury) Hang Glider Student HG pilot under Instruction; had been progressing well, 5th day in, good site being grassy smooth slope, 3040 degrees, moderate breeze straight in. Launched well, proceeded to make a pass across slope (for the first time) and then reversed twice before on third turn out, continued on a very small bank angle till he was facing back against hill. Happened too quickly for me to make a call on radio. Student failed to correct the turn, pilot in an unrecoverable situation before having time to react and correct the turn by turning back away from the hill. Pilot reacted well to the rising ground by pushing right out and flaring/stalling glider. Wheels and downtubes took most of the rolling impact, Pilot ended up on stomach, a little surprised but unhurt. Date Region Type Aircraft 23/8/2020 Canterbury Moderate (doctor visit or ACC claim) Paraglider Paraglider pilot PG3; Turning back into wind too land, to much right brake and spun glider. Injured Lower spine and right shoulder.
New Airspace Files for GPS and VNC Charts Tim Brown PCC and Australian pilot Matt Rosser have reworked the NZ Airspace files for your GPS instruments, especially covering the North Island for 2020 - Awesome work Tim and Matt. Go to the NZHGPA website under competitions and records, then to downloads, file Airspace to find the latest GPS files www.nzhgpa.org.nz/competitions/pg-competitions/downloads Also take a peek at Aircheck for preflight planning and checking your flight does not break airspace before going live; http://xcaustralia.org/aircheck/aircheck_nz_2019_v6.php
The caveat of course is that you should also check your Visual Navigation Chart Charts and NOTAMS before flights. Of interest the VNC Charts have had a radical makeover, they are more detailed and in a smaller A1 size. Order now for an implementation date of 5th November 2020 from the Aeropath, Aeronautical Information Shop: https://mailchi.mp/aeropath/vncs2020?e98764352
Test your knowledge on VFR Many clubs are encouraging their members to update and check their knowledge of VFR rules by having a go at the online test. We think that’s a great idea. Try it yourself. It’s free. On the NZHGPA website http://nzhgpa-notices.blogspot.com Go to the “Test your knowledge on VFR” article and; • Access the online exam at www.classmarker.com/online-test/start/?quiz=k345e8d4f7f8c5b7 and use the current password “vfr2020”. The password may change at some stage but if it does we’ll let you know. • If you don’t pass on the first go don’t be disappointed, you can have another go after 24 hours. In the mean time maybe read the new VFR guide at https://drive.google.com/ file/d/1RVvGv0EY7Gz3YKRMj6ASZVA_yRFC8wFH/view. The guide is also available on the NZHGPA website (in the OPM and Forms area).
20 A i r b o r n
Date Region Type Aircraft 7/9/2020 Southern Minor injury accident (medical treatment or ACC claim) Paraglider Paraglider pilot PG2; My flight was very sinky so I could not make my original planned landing. I decided to land in a carpark where we had placed windsocks. Windsocks were showing zero wind so I chose to land in the direction I was flying, on my landing approach I realised I was landing downwind. I overshot the carpark and caught my wing tip in a tree. My wing stopped flying and my body was swung up, then pulled back by my wing and I landed on a quiet end of the line road flat on my back. My back protection worked well, the only pain I felt was in my wrist which had hit the ground. My wing fell from the tree. The next day I had whiplash in my neck. I didn’t realise this at the time as I didn’t hit my head and the pain was delayed. Date Region Type Aircraft 12/9/2020 Canterbury Moderate (doctor visit or ACC claim) Paraglider Paraglider pilot PG2; Conditions were getting lighter at Taylors and it was getting hard to stay in the air. Most pilots were scratching the quarry and Taylors launch gulley. There was a mixture of punchy thermals and sink. Pilot was soaring 15-20m in front of telephone cable on upwind side when caught in sudden sink (downdraft) while watching the wing. Pilot drifted towards the telephone cable. The air was probably drawn from other thermal. Pilot avoided the power lines but didn’t turn quickly enough and hit the pole with their body and harness, pilot fell down from approximate 3m. The glider stayed over the telephone cable. Some pilots noticed a thermal was released after that and it was harder to land closer to the pilot within next few minutes. So it could be combination of thermal turbulence and downdraft.
Catch up from your CEO
H
i everyone, Spring thermals are popping and there is a change in the air, not just skywards but also within the association. I am delighted to announce the introduction of a National Safety Officer and proud to present to you, the new look Operations Team and ethos. CEO; Nick Taber Operations Manager; Carlos Palmer Training Manager; Blake Round Internal Auditor; Kris Erickson National Safety Officer; Dean Straker National Airspace Officer; Rhys Akers Chief Medical Officer; Dr Sam Bartholomew Full contact details are on page 3 of Airborn At the AGM, which included a mass email out to members; I presented the NZHGPA three year focus around Safety, Community, Retention and Recruitment. Whilst the Operation Team is here to meet our regulatory compliance, we are also here to help guide members through better education, communication, and facilitate to make things happen. It is important that we now look forward and no matter what aircraft you fly; be it a hang glider, paraglider, speed wing, mini wing, motorised, non motorised, or if you like to whirl and twirl, speed down a mountain, go XC, or simply enjoy a beautiful sunset flight, we fly as one. My CEO Statement to Pilots “As the CEO of the NZHGPA, I am committed to developing, promoting, and protecting the sport of hang
Nick at the 2017 NZ Paragliding Nationals gliding and paragliding, with a strong focus on safety, the flying comunity, and the retention and recruitment of pilots. This will be facilitated through communication and education, to proactively foster an inclusive and supportive - Positive Sports Culture.” - NZHGPA CEO Nick Taber Ultimately, the success of our association is down to every one of us. We are all ambassadors for our sport. I thank all those that have gone before us since incorporation in 1973, you trailblazed possibilities and advancement in technologies, that could have only been dreamed of 47 years ago. My vision as the CEO, together with the Executive, is to foster an environment where pilots can contribute, master the sport, and above all have fun as we grow the spirit of free flying and the future of the NZHGPA for generations to come. Let’s Fly. - Nick Taber
