Hang Glider Crash - Emergency Chute deployment

Details of Incident -
Pilot - Toby 'Drogue' Houldsworth
Glider - Moyes XT 165
Parachute - Unknown brand (but quite obviously effective)
Location - Wylkatchem, Western Australia
Injuries - Slight bruising and a new nickname (Drogue).
Details - Pilot was static line towing in a competition. During his pre-flight routine he was interrupted by a technical problem with his instruments, after correcting the problem the pilot continued his preflight not realising the the tow bridle (which he had previously checked was clear) was now underneath his right arm. On launch the tow bridle flicked past his harness pulling the release for his emergency parachute. The bridle also pulled his right hand off the upright but he quickly corrected and continued unaware that his reserve chute was released. The parachute deployed and inflated snapping the safety 'weak-link' and causing the glider to pendulum down into the ground.
Afterwards - Pilot set up a spare gilder (a Fun 190) and flew it for the remainder of the competition. He finished in first place in the novice section with some very impressive flights. The XT has been repaired (new control frame and keel, sail patched on undersurface).
Footage - Andrew 'Pantyman' Talmage and Trevor 'Danger'.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Crash
• Hang
• glider
• paraglider
• fall
• flying
• WA
• wylie
• comps
• dust
• devils
• goldfields
• drogue
• toby
• houldsworth
• HG
• PG
• parachute
• best
• accident
• amazing
• awesome
• crazy
• funny
• near
• death
• dangerous

[Jodandrew]

Details of what went wrong and an explanation of the accident can be found in the video description. I would encourage everyone to read these so they can better understand the incident and avoid similar errors.

[Jodandrew]

Hang Gliding is the same as everything else in life... it is as safe as you make it. 99% of all accidents are pilot error (this one was completely pilot error.)

If you fly for a long time then you might have one or two close calls but at the end of the day the most dangerous part of flying is driving to the places where we fly from. But it's not a sport for everyone.

Personally, for me the benefits massively outweigh the risks. There is nothing like it, to fly free is to truly live life.

[CombatPara]

Is that a Moyes XT165?

[Jodandrew]

It WAS a Moyes XT165. Need a new A-Frame, Keel and a few other pieces to put it back together again after the crash but I believe it is alive and flying again.

[weflyuniv]

The front view reveals a possible reason why the bar came out. It has always been my feeling that the grapevine grip leaves one with reduced pitch authority during the grip switch to Coke Bottle. I never felt a lack of control using Coke Bottle as has been suggested by proponents of the Grapevine style, taught Coke Bottle for the 20 years I taught HG and was never persuaded of a better way. I no longer teach and am no longer vested in defending that position.

Ken de Russy

Anacortes, WA

USA

[Jodandrew]

Hi Ken,

Thanks for the comments. When these things happen and are fortunate enough to get caught on tape it is always good to get feedback and learn as much as we can from them. In this particular case I don't think the grip had much to do with the crash. The pilot couldn't control the pitch of the nose because the bridle pulled up underneath his arm forcing him to release his grip with his right arm. In truth he did well to recover and not to crash then...unfortunately the chute was out.

[stealhty1]

WELL the chute did his job

[AeonofOblivion]

Did I hear an Australian accent?  >.>

[narutofan1305]

ahahhahahahahaahah

[mybluebelly]

Looks like some badass flying attempt out of the 19th century! Fuckin FAIL !!!

[Rieke03]

Helicopter-Landings on a hang glider ground a forbidden!

[kingofallwhites]

He is using a t-60 with a 440 twin cam.

[AllSingingAllDancing]

That's cool! I mean no, it's NOT cool that it deployed, but cool because I didn't know they had emergency chutes. Thanks for posting this and I'm glad you're safe!

[dustziggy]

Why did the chute deploy? May be a silly question but do all hang gliders use chute's and is it normal for people learning to carry one? I wan't to learn to hand glide this coming summer.

[FCbisleybob]

@weflyuniv i think the front view does show the reason but its not his grip. he is using a tow leg. one line up to the keel of his glider the other to him, he starts the flight with it under his right arm as tension comes on it pings up pulling his arm up and probably contacting with the chute handle on the way passed. it sems poor pre flight checks are to blame.

[MrNinjaKiwi13]

well atleast his parachute works