Pilot discovered one riser carabiner was open/unlatched 15 minutes into flight at approximately 500 feet AGL. Carabiner gate was held open by pressure from webbing at the base - not enough space for both safety strap and swing arm attachment points. Pilot landed safely. Over 10 years experience in paragliding/paramotoring.
Preflight Error
Maximum — exactly determined
Pilot was flying at a new site and after 15 minutes of flight at approximately 500 feet AGL noticed that one riser carabiner was open/unlatched. The carabiner used was not the spring-loaded twist-locking style the pilot was accustomed to from paragliding. The carabiner gate was held open by pressure from the webbing - the bottom of the carabiner wasn't wide enough to accommodate both the safety strap and swing arm attachment points, causing them to push against the bottom of the gate. This force held it open just enough. During a rushed preflight, the pilot expected the gate to close as it had hundreds of times before and missed that it was stuck open. The pilot performed some small oscillations during the flight before noticing the issue. After discovering the problem, the pilot landed safely.
Preflight error - pilot failed to verify carabiner gate was properly closed and latched. Contributing factor was the carabiner design where webbing at the base prevented the gate from closing properly. The bottom of the carabiner was not wide enough to accommodate both attachment points, causing pressure that held the gate open. Pilot was rushing during preflight and expected the gate to close automatically as it had done previously.
Mostly correct inputs while reacting
October 10, 2024
152 m
Over 10 years experience in paragliding and paramotoring. Came from paragliding background and was used to spring-loaded twist-locking carabiners.
Reddit post title: "I always thought this photo was fake but it happened to me tonight. Extremely fortunate to get down and land safely." OP's description: "First photo is not my photo but my riser was in exactly the same position ~500' AGL. I had already been flying for 15 minutes at a new beautiful site before noticing it. Coming from paragliding, I was used to the spring loaded pull back and twist locking carabiners similar to this photo and obviously missed it when getting ready. I've been in the sport for over a decade, it can happen to anyone and please learn from my mistake. Second photo is the carabiner style I have." OP's follow-up comment: "After getting home and checking out the carabiner more, the bottom of the carabiner (second photo) isn't wide enough at all times to accommodate both the safety strap + swing arm attachment points causing them to push against the bottom of the gate. This force held it open just enough and, combined with a rushed preflight expecting the gate to close as it has hundreds of times, almost led to my riser popping off mid-flight. Would be a good check to make sure your carabiners can freely open and shut as well as look into getting a spring loaded twist locking style made for paramotor." OP's additional comment: "Here's a photo on the ground of the gate getting stuck open: https://imgur.com/a/mTUbeOo I attached normally, and while I don't know exactly what happened I'm assuming this got stuck similar but less dramatically as in the photo. During launch it likely slid up towards the gate and got loaded when in flight. Notice the webbing at the base of the carabiner - it's mashed in there. Already got new ones but will make sure that there's enough room there." "I wouldn't say caught, more that there wasn't enough space for both straps to fit at the bottom of the biner so friction / pressure held the gate open when it ought to snap closed Not sure if they came with the harness or with the frame manufacturer. The harness is the standard dudek powerseat comfort, pretty sure they came with that." "Can't even describe the feeling while seeing this in air, especially after just having done a few small oscillations" Harness: Dudek Powerseat Comfort