Equipment Bulletins
Notes from users, observers and/or manufacturers about potentially
unsafe conditions
Paramotors, wings, harnesses, risers, helmets and other gear are subject
to failure. This section is an effort to share knowledge of known
maladies that could impair flight safety. Also, popular equipment will
have more issues so it doesn't mean a particular brand less safe just
because there are more reports on it.
If you've experienced or observed an equipment problem, please send it
to contact with "footflyer" in the
subject field. These may also be reported from information gleaned
elsewhere such as personal observations, newsgroups and media reports.
One report of a problem is not necessarily enough to warrant an alert.
Headless Trike Pilots
2009-July-25
Any wheeled craft where the head is exposed carries the risk that, in
some situations, lines could be pulled into the prop and across the
pilot's neck. The cure is to have a bar that runs forward and above the
pilots head such that any lines getting pulled into the prop during a
failed launch will not pull tight across the pilot's neck.
One high-time pilot experienced a line burn from this exact scenario and
was saved because the line broke before cutting his heck open. He
acknowledged that , had the line not broken it could have been
dramatically worse.
Such bars, inherent in a few some designs, are easily added after the
fact on nearly all machines.
Whether or not you have good neck protection, the problem is abated by
having an easy-to-reach kill switch, in good working order, and be
extremely quick to use it!
   
This style of machine is most at risk.
  
This style has middling risk because frame and harness parts provide
some protection by virtue of giving the lines something snag on besides
the pilot's neck. A line could still cause injury if harness webbing is
the only protection although it's better by virtue of being attached to
an over-arm frame part.
    
This style of machine has the least risk for neck-line injury. Lines
would be more likely to run up the frame instead of snagging the pilot's
neck. Machines where the pilot's arms are below a metal frame part are
best.
Machine 1 (far left) has the most protection, followed by 4 (far right).
Machines 2 and 3 have the least protection from this particular issue.
Agama Straps May Be Reversed
2009-July-2
It has been discovered that 2 Agama "Y" Velcro straps have been found
that do not stick together. If the installation instructions are
followed correctly this fault will be noticed before it becomes a
serious problem. Please insure that you secure the Agama to the
paramotor frame with Tie-Wraps if a Velcro is found to not stick
together firmly.
The failure of the 2 Velcro hook & loop straps appear
to be caused by the "loop" side not being fully developed during the
manufacturing process resulting in a non-sticking of the "Y" when
closure is attempted. Again - this error should be noticed during
installation by the customer - and has been to date.
Make sure that the Agama is fastened firmly to the
paramotor frame before use!
If you have any question or comments please contact
Paul Czarnecki, PlanetPPG at 239 297 7570 (Florida, USA).
Gin Middle Line Shrinkage
2008-June-7
During inspection of some Gin Boomerang Sports with 100+ of hours of use, it was
confirmed that some gliders have lines that have changed length and are no
longer within the 1-2 cm tolerances. Some gliders with 100 hours+, experienced shrinkage in
the middle lines constructed of "LIROS DC 120." The changes were seen mainly
on the D and brake lines.
This line shrinkage can be easily detected during the normal line length
check as part of the required 100 hours or 1 year inspection.
As a precaution, Gin has decided to offer replacement middle and upper line
sets, free of charge, to all owners of Boomerang Sports and Yeti 08s that
are fitted with LIROS DC 120 and DC 60.
Please take time to inform any and all Boomerang Sport and Yeti pilots about
this notice.
For more information, contact:
Super Fly Inc.,
801 255 9595,
Sandy, UT 84070,
801-255-9595.
Broken Carabiner
2008-June-7
_small.jpg) Paul
Lundquist shared this picture taken by a pilot after he landed at Point
of the Mountain. After unclipping from the wing, the pilot's carabiner
"crumbled in his hands." Such a failure, had it happened in flight would
have been catastrophic and would almost certainly be fatal.
Strength of Aluminum carabiners reduce dramatically if over stressed
or scratched. They can be overstressed if flown in the open position.
They should be inspected closely before flight and some instructors
recommend replacement on a periodic basis such as 100 hours.
Tiny Tach Affecting Kill Switches
2008-June-6
Ken Johnston, Green Country PPG,
shares that the new Tiny Tach Commercial model may be causing problems with
paramotor kill switches. It has been confirmed on 3 separate paramotors
using the Black Devil 172. If too many wraps are made around the spark
plug wire (using the red antenna wire), the kill switch will cease to
function. The solution is to use the minimum wraps necessary to get a good
rpm reading, often 2 will work. Then test the kill switch at several
different rpm levels to insure its proper function. It's possible that
other engines could be affected so check your kill switch after installing
this tachometer. Check it at various RPM levels.
MacPara and Other Wings
2008-Feb-21
During launch, a pilot's brake line broke where it went through the
pulley on a high-time Spice 22 that had not been inspected in two years.
A closer look revealed that the pulley had frozen in place so the brake
line was sliding over it instead of rolling. That chafed the line until
it failed with a moderately strong pull. This could be a very serious
failure if it happens when you need to execute a turn and the brake line
fails.
The pulleys used on these wings are common across many brands so we
recommend the following regardless of make:
1. Immediately check your pulleys for freedom of movement.
2. Inspect your brake lines for wear in the pulley area regardless of
pulley condition. Replace any brake line that shows wear.
3. If your glider has not been inspected in the last two years or it has
been flown more than 100 hours since the last inspection, it would be
advisable to get it professionally inspected.
MAH Props
2008-Jan-17
We have received reports of an apparently bad batch of MAH carbon fiber
props props. Cracks near the blade root were found after about 2 to 8 hours of flight time.
2008-01-18 The manufacturer explained that
they have corrected the problem and have replaced the defective units
under warranty. This was a limited to only certain 48"
props used on Fresh Breeze motors.
 2007
Paratoys Blackhawk Harness
2007-Setp-11
A pilot reports that, during climb, his harness detached from the right
underarm J-bar causing the motor to twist. Thrust was reduced due the
twist and climb reduced. He also reported that his right side initially
dropped.
According to the manufacturer, this can result primarily when the J-bar
arm is incorrectly installed in the pocket. When properly installed, the
stress of the attachment is born by the horizontal webbing. Inspect your
connection to insure that it is not being pulled apart at the seams.
Paratoys offered this: "Please insure if your harness is removed from
the J bars that were installed in the factory that it is placed back
into the proper slit, Not the Pocket on the harness strap."
Liftweb integrity (its primary support function) was never in jeopardy
but the startle factor and twisting make this important to prevent. We
recommend inspecting the stitching and, if worn, having the harness
repaired before further flight. Use a parachute rigger or paraglider
repair shop that works on harnesses. Many shoe repair shops can due the
heavy webbing work required but a parachute rigger will know better
what's needed.
If it happens in flight on any machine, weight shift as much as possible
opposite the lean, use minimum power and return for a landing. Know that
the structural integrity is still sound.
The pilot who reported this handled it well and, although barely missing
power lines in a restricted field, returned safely.
Simonini Motors used Fresh Breeze (and possibly others) Through July
2007
2007-Sept-11
A number of Simonini motors shipped on Fresh Breeze (and possibly
others) made in 2006 and up to July 2007 have had ignition wires come
disconnected from the coil causing an engine failure. These must be
crimbed securely one of the ignition leads can come off easily. It
must be crimped securely to prevent coming off.
New motors incorporate a different design that reduces or eliminates
this problem. Contact your dealer for a retrofit of that system if
desired. |
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