Accident and Incident Reporting (AIR)

General procedures: Please refer to the relevant Standard Operating Procedures:

• • SOP 400 Flight Safety
  • SOP 405 Accident / Incident Reporting

Accident/Incident Statistics

• • Coming Soon

NOTIFICATION OF ACCIDENTS / INCIDENTS

Where an accident or incident occurs, the pilot in command, an instructor or witness shall each be responsible for ensuring that the Safety Committee  is notified within 24 hours at safety@hpac.ca and that written notification of the incident or accident is furnished to the HPAC Safety Committee within 7 days of the occurrence. Immediate notification to the Safety Chair and to the National Office will be required for serious injury or fatality.

Definitions

Accident

In relation to a hang glider / paraglider, means an occurrence associated with the operation of the aircraft which takes place between the time any person “clips in” to the aircraft with the intention to fly until such time as the persons have “unclipped” in which:

1. 1. Any person suffers DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY as a result of being in the aircraft, or anything attached to the aircraft;
   2. The main aircraft components (excluding minor Down tube damage) incur damage or structural failure that adversely affects the structural strength, performance or flight characteristics and would normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component; or

• • Any canopy tear greater than 15cm (6″ ) in length;

1. 1. The aircraft is missing or inaccessible;
   2. Involves any passenger, crew or ground personnel during flight proceedings.

SERIOUS INJURY

Is defined as any injury, other than fatal, which:

1. 1. Requires hospitalization or medical treatment at any time from injuries received; or
   2. Results in the fracture of any bone except simple fractures of fingers or toes; or

• • Involves lacerations which cause severe hemorrhage, nerve, muscle or tendon damage; or

1. 1. Involves injury to any internal organ; or
   2. Involves second or third degree burns, or any burns affecting more than five percent of body surface.

INCIDENT

In relation to a hang glider or paraglider,

1. 1. means an occurrence, other than an accident, associated with the operation of the aircraft, including set-up and pack-up periods, that could affect the safety of the operation of the aircraft, safety of other aircraft or of spectators or other people on the ground;
   2. A near miss in flight, or a mid air collision where no damage or injury resulted;

• • An accidental or any other reserve parachute deployment regardless of injury or glider damage, That causes minor injuries not requiring medical treatment to the pilot or ground personnel; or

1. 1. Causes minor aircraft damage such as minor tears to the canopy (less than 15cm / 6″ in length) or Control Bar, Base Tube or A,B,C & Brake Lines; or minor Harness damage only;
   2. Which provides information relative to the interest of the flying community.

The following are provided as some examples of reportable incidents

1. 1. Glider blown over on ground into other glider or vehicle causing damage;
   2. Any occurrence that may easily have resulted in serious injury where the circumstance, if known about or pre-warned, could help avoid a similar potential accident from happening;

• • Any structural failure or damage on a glider resulting from set-up or pack up procedures, or component defect noticed before or after flight but not resulting in an accident.

Reporting form

Statistics: These are provided by the Safety Committee and are generated from A/I reports.

Information taken from accident and incident reporting is only shared anonymously. We apply a non-punitive reporting system, the intent of which is for all pilots to learn from previous mistakes and not to assign blame or to punish.

Contact safety committee at safety@hpac.ca.