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April 26, 2019, 7:14:08 pm EDT

Diligence and complacency

Make sure that your glider is ready to go

Quest Air|video

Stephan Mentler «stephmet» writes:

Though embarrassing, I am writing this for the benefit of the flying community. When I began flying, I was unusually diligent about pre-flighting my hang glider – perhaps to the point of being annoying. I checked every left/right batten combination to ensure that they matched, every screw, wire, wire tang, etc., before every flight. I noticed any deviation from the norm. That was then. Now, when I assemble my glider, I ram my battens into place, may periodically check the nose plate assembly, wire attachment points, look for a ding in the leading, etc. – periodically is the operative word here. There are only so many flying hours in the day - kid, job, work - I have to get in the air when I can and quickly. I became complacent, which http://Dictionary.com defines as a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like…

So, this past Wednesday, was no different. I dropped my son off at school, made the drive from Jacksonville to Groveland, pulled my glider out of the storage container, and raced to get it assembled. As a free flyer during the second week of the Quest Air National Series (QANS), my plan was to be in the air before the launch opened for the comp. My glider set up, harness hooked up, instruments set, and camera in perfect position; I planned to capture video of the gaggles that would come together in the start circle, as pilots worked for the best start position ahead of the first gate opening – I was ready to go. I have one last swig of water (I forgot my water bladder) as I walked around my glider to make sure that I didn’t leave any pack-up gear behind before flying.

A slight wrinkle in my sail on the leading edge, drew my attention. This got my attention for no other reason than this was a new glider and somehow, I managed to crease the sail on the leading edge with a poor pack job - I have actually become more diligent about breaking down my glider then setting it up. I have a reputation for taking care of my equipment and it is for good reason. I was not happy, I had creased the sail on the leading edge. I called over to another pilot flying the same glider, showed him the crease, and asked how he thought I managed to this. Zipper up, zipper down, strap too tight – we went through the myriad potential causes. We agreed that after landing he would show me how he packed his. He walked off as I got ready to fly.

Still obsessed about the crease, I decided to look inside the sail for any obvious wear or compression points. Looking inside, I noticed that the crease was at the point at which the carbon outer leading edge met the aluminum inner leading edge. I looked a little a closer and noticed a hole where a screw ought to be. Even closer, I could see that the spacing ring that fills the gap between the carbon and aluminum (the outer leading edge has a smaller circumference) had slid out. The wrinkle was not the result of poor breakdown and packing but rather a result of my outer leading edge having float both aft and up.

While this would not have led to a structural failure in flight, it has been surmised that it would have introduced a nearly impossible to correct turn. It should go without saying, but on aerotow launch, this could have been catastrophic. I should add that my first couple of landings on the glider could be described as hard (whacked) and yet I did not follow the manufacture’s recommendation for additional diligence in pre-flight inspection upon hard landings – likely the cause of the screw loosening, eventually coming out, and releasing the ring.

Once again, I had become complacent. I am fortunate as I learned my lesson the easy way, on the ground. For other pilots out there, that have gotten complacent like me, learn from my lesson while you are safe on the ground.

Discuss "Diligence and complacency" at the Oz Report forum   link»


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