Incidents Types

.

This incidents types list is a synthesis of syntheses of several national overall practice incidents databases, running over several decades. Some sources have been lost, however the synthesis remains. Sorting the categories and especially the solution proposals is subjective (R. Caux). The list is of course open. Fly safe.

Issues

Proposals

Psychology     

lack of experience start of season fear, carelessness, complacency personal worries, feeling “beside” nervous, anger, “testosterone” distraction (camcorder…), speeding up forgetting legloops run stop in tandem launch student without guidance risk taking with weather, aerology unavailability, overload, panic

training learn human factor learn human factor give up delay delay close legloops 1st improve pedagogy improve pedagogy learn human factor tuned equipment, simplified pedagogy, training

Physiology     

hypoxia dehydration hypoglycemia cold sun lack of sleeping, tiredness, jetlag bad physical shape alcohol, cannabis need to pee visual flaw (midair path) white dots on retina airsick wounds on ground scubadiving less than 12h before flight centrifugated, no reserve opening

fly down, oxygen set drink, camelback eat weather check, gloves, cothes sunglasses, sunscreen, clothes, drink give up give up give up learn technique red tape, FLARM good sunglasses training (fitness) training give up learn Gs dangers, G-trainer, drogue chute

Harness     

forgetting legloops, waist strap impossible wanted reserve opening . unwanted reserve opening separation upon reserve opening legs injuries spine injuries

EN 1651, Safe-T-Bar, legloops-shoulder straps links direct pod handle reached by both hands or 2 reserves faired & fitted pod handle bridle connected to harness safety frame ballast suited to pilot deployable airbag

Equipment     

face wounds by glasses losing helmet “neck breaker” faired helmet brain rotational wounds snagging cord on launch or glider . difficult reserve opening pilot chute break difficult pod opening pod opened before throwing reserve burst in terminal velocity opening injuries upon landing under reserve

glasses with round rim tested geometry, strong chin strap minimal fairing behind helmet MIPS helmet technology tethers only by cow hitches or quick links, inner radio wire, no external strings pilot chute on pod freefall tested pilot chute bungees regularly changed (prevent hardening) protected closing loop, lines stowed on pod EN 12491, freefall tested sail size suited to gross weight

Glider     

loss of control during launch, dragged collapses, low AoA, cravats . cutting or fatigue line break spiral stability sand in sail

easy sail behaviour, Rose system max speed limitation, more lines in upper front pyramid? proper size lines design, drogue chute regular check after coastal flight

Environment     

protruding nail on ramp steep launch on winch tow, stall upon line break face injuries upon line break impossible release upon lockout midair with winch tow line obstacles on landing injuries upon jumping in water drowning upon water landing

surface restricted tension below 50m, operator’s training simple, light & compact release no cord loops imitating metal rings winch tow activity on airmaps cut fences, trees wait touching water before opening buckles floating harness, 1. brake sail 2. open harness

Control     

spinaker effect, poor sail rising control launch with line mix, low AoA, gust passenger/pilot hindrance upon launch blown launch, lockout on tow hitting the ridge collapse, surge, stall, parachutal, spin midair unwanted reserve opening pilot wrapped up in sail high wind poor approach, low turn gradient, collapse due to obstacles obstacles on landing no braking

training training improve briefing anticipate, active control, “hands free” release crabb towards the valley training, SIV learn rules, continuous 360° watch, anticipate equipment preparation read on aerobatics & risk management improve wind analysis & anticipate long straight final judge & anticipate anticipate, watch free zone pedagogy, training

Competition     

overcrowded start gate . midair collapses lost pilots hazardous task line/final glide . overcrowded landing

adapt lapse between launch opening & 1st start: 1 to 2h continuous 360° watch, FLARM reduce speed by task design mobile phone on, live tracker, SPOT flight corridor over landable & in aerologically sound zones daily turn direction for landing

Principles     

mental training: visualise problems & emergency procedures aware of consequences (aviation’s hardest = ground) aware of own (changing) limits: adrenalin, visual flaws, no cheating fit & awake ability to renounce: maturity use logic more than lists learned by heart simplify procedures to lower work load anticipate worsening situation, have an alternate rely on anticipation more than luck safety scale (green: fly, yellow: watch ground, red: land) anticipate human mistake, humbleness, listen to critics step in upon hazard or incompetence declare incidents for common knowledge putting stress on little mistakes (almost accident)