Pilot error, Shifty air, Beach run, Red tide, Brake drops and 270 to land

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2 years ago
27

Flight 107
180311
Placida LZ
Flight time 01:15
PIC 97:32
Allup wt. 278 lbs.
Wx: ovr cast
Wind: T/O variable 190/8
Wind: Landing 170/4
Temp: 73F

Pilots: Mike Lange, Mike Otten, Pavel

Hadn't flown in a couple of weeks. Any flying was better than none. The Mike duo and Pavel came out as well. Was nice to see Mike O who's been absent from the flying scene. Instead enjoying the quarter mile arena.
I allowed my discipline to wane which puts me in precarious in flight situations simply by not following my workable rontine. In aviation, there's a reason for everything. The checks you make as you follow your routine are to ensure that you're ready for the next stage without creating your own problems. On my reverse takeoff, I delayed in my turn allowing the shifty winds and vacillating wind speed to take the wing outside the control box. I ABORTED, dropping my brakes toggles and transitioning to kiting to fly the wing into position for another go. In my transition back to reverse takeoff, I did not follow my checks, clearing the brake lines. The right brake handle had interwoven itself in the other suspension lines.
After takeoff the wing veered right and downwind headed towards the power lines. At first I thought it was an easy fix. Without glasses I couldn't see how interwoven it was. Being that it was the throttle side I kept letting off the throttle and descending. I changed from left brake to left TST for easier turning and less drag flying away from the powerlines. My ground proximity warning device "gut feeling" said take a look. I was heading for impact. That brought the complacency to an end and the pilot side took over demanding to cut the shit and fly to a safe place to fix the problem or formulate a plan.
I climbed up a few hundred feet and set the cruise control. Using both hands, I was able to figure out the entanglement. All of that could have been avoided by maintaining the discipline to follow your routine. Once the brake was clear, FIDO. The air was choppy and switchy as I cruised at 400' enroute to Stump Pass without control input. Mike O's wing crawls along so I left the trims in neutral. Once arriving at the beach, I did a wingman check with no one insight. Continuing to the south end of Stump Pass, I descended to the play. Not enough wind or sand bars to duplicate flight 105. Though the air was smoother and chilly. I chose to keep it normal and check out the sites enroute for the south end of the Island.
When flying below 100' I fly with both brake and TST agility and landings. With a stiff headwind, I was light on the controls. Arriving at the south end of Little Gasparilla, the air wasn't fun at all. I didn't see it, but twice I felt my controls pop. I think I was experiencing tip collapses from the switchy turbulent conditions. Cool. Considering the conditions and alone, I decided to bug out for the LZ.
Arriving at the LZ I searched the skies for compadres and found them returning from the beach. Awaiting their arrival I practiced a few 270 deg turns to landing with a few brakedrop to landings. The last one, I was a hauling ass along.

Every check has a reason, maintain your discipline

Bob The Pilot
@Bobthepilot (Twitter)
[email protected]

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