SAFA Skysailor Magazine

24 SKY SAILOR January | February 2021 Greetings fellow pilots and welcome to the final AIRS Safety wrap-up for 2020. By the time you read this, it will be 2021, I hope you’re having a good break if you’re lucky enough to have time off. Last year, I drew the short straw in the Ops Team to be on emergency phone duty; this year it’s my colleague Peter Allen’s turn. Hopefully, it’s quiet for him. Let’s kick-off proceedings with some PPG reports In AIRS #1332, the pilot had been performing maintenance on his secondary motor. Maintenance was mainly to the fuel system, but included swapping the throttle to a Chameleon unit. The motor had not been started for two years, so after checking the throttle, the pilot strapped the unit to their back and attempted starting. The motor fired on the fourth or fifth go and immediately went to full throttle, causing the pilot to fall forward on an outstretched arm, resulting in a dislocated shoulder. Although prior to starting the throttle ran freely, it was found that in the process of mounting the unit, cable ties securing the throttle cable had moved and prevented a free-return to idle. Pilots are advised to test-run motors in large open spaces or with the motor secured to a testing bench. Caution is required concerning the use of cable ties to secure throttle cables, as these can prevent free throttle movement. AIRS #1263 and #1285 see us join a pilot in Sydney. In #1263, PIC was on a climb-out near Warriewood and tracking above Powderworks Road when the motor started running rough. The pilot throttled back to maintain level flight while assessing their options, and decided on landing on the fairway of the 16th hole of the Monash Country Club. As they let the motor return to idle, the motor cut out. A safe landing was made without injury or damage. A tear-down of the engine revealed a failed upper connecting rod bearing. In #1285, the pilot lost their grip on the throttle during a take-off from Long Reef Reserve and made an emergency landing on the golf course directly below. After touchdown, the throttle cable immediately went into the propeller and wound around the redrive, causing a catastrophic failure of the redrive unit, such that the upper housing, belt, bearing, and propeller departed from the engine, travelled down AIRS Safety wrap-up – December 2020 by Iain Clarke – SAFA Safety Management Officer

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