flight incident 12/31/00 Chief's

From: Zvi
Activity_Date: 12/31/00
Remote Name: 4.33.113.55

Comments

Sunday 12-31-00. Chief. Benson, Claude and myself (Zvi). Active air with some turbulent cycles at launch. Both Claude and myself were picked reversed and dumped once before launch. I experienced my first serious deflation to date (most likely 50%? asymmetric on right side. At ~450' AGL above middle bump, while approaching what seemed to be unusually turbulent air at the edge of a thermal I could feel and hear my wing tips flutter. 1/2 second later I entered a violent, most dynamic spiral dive and lost altitude rapidly.

Due to relatively low altitude and dynamic energy of the wing (Octane -- DHV2/Performance) and my non-existent SIV skills, I did not want waste time on piloting recovery and decided to go for the reserve. However, I was not able to reach my reserve handle (back mounted). With the ground coming fast at me I decided to 'let the wing fly' and I let go of the breaks completely. The wing snapped open and surged a good deal at about 120' AGL. I dampened the surge and climbed the first thermal I chanced.

=============== My impressions:

1. I was really shocked by the suddenness of the event and the tremendous energy (speed/sink rate/and tightness) that carried into the spiral. I spiraled 2 full turns before exiting. It felt like I was being drilled fast into the ground.

2. While I did not panic I definitely froze somewhat and lacked the natural piloting instinct to exit asap

3. I never looked up to see my wing - not once!!!. Although in retrospect, the incident does seem like a straight foreword asymmetric, it never registered in real time. Seeing a part of the wing go would have helped me to identify the situation and react accordingly. (I might have been too scared to look???). Near a ridge, it's important to fly out first but I was not near any ridge and could have afforded to take a quick look.

4. Had the glider not recovered hands up --- I would not have been here to tell you about it. It was close.

5. Leaning to the right to reach for the reserve handle might have aggravated / prolonged the recovery since the glider was spiraling in that direction anyway. The Octane is very sensitive to weigh shifting. 6. Looking for the reserve handle while reaching for it can shorten the deployment sequence

7. In my case, there was no 2nd deployment chance. If you are already reaching for the reserve handle, don't be casual about it. It may be your only chance so pay attention, get a good grip and get ready.

8. SIV training -- Definitely would have helped me to be more prepared *emotionally* and technically

9. Incidents can happen and develop quite rapidly - Say I had a total of 10 seconds from the time it started until I would have hit the ground had the glider not recovered. For me that is enough time for 1 piloting recovery attempt and 1 deployment attempt and that's it.

10.Practice reaching for the reserve handle at least once a flight (beware of accidental deployments).

11. Most important -- Don't let the wing fly you! If it kicks, fight back until it's back on track! (don't over react but don't hesitate either -- esp. when low) ===============