First, Andy did have his backup attached.


Second, there is normally only one loop around the slider. The second "loop"
actually, half a loop, is the backup.


Third, the primary riser was separated by Andy's tuck at about 1.5 cm above the
slider.


Fourth, the first problem was that the primary failed. The second problem was
that the backup (or secondary) failed. And the third problem was that the strap
that held the parachute to the shoulder straps failed.


Fifth, there is a difference of opinion where the secondary failed. Damien
Gates, a hang glider pilot and policeman who was asked to look into the matter
and who examined the harness, told the assembled pilots that the secondary was
routed through a small slot in the carbon fiber back plate, that this slot was
damaged, and that the secondary broke there probably due to contact with the
broken carbon fiber harness.


Olli Barthlemews. who represents the harness manufacturer, Skyline, says that
the secondary does not go through the back plate through those slots, that they
only hold a piece of Velcro (and this is true when I examined Olli's and my
harness) and that the secondary goes through the large main hole in the back
plate under the slider (also true on our Skyline harnesses). He further contends
that he thinks the secondary broke at about the same place as the primary, 1.5
cm up from the slider.


He also states that Andreas had three hard pound ins with this harness (two
after tucks) and did aerobatics with it, for which it is not rated. It was also
a seven year old harness. He believes that these accidents and the aerobatics
have stressed the harness riser to the point where it could be broken when
Andreas tucked the glider once again at Forbes.


Olli will be giving me his full report soon.


I will not be given a report by Damien, but perhaps Chris Fogg at the HGFA will
be so good as to provide me the official report from the HGFA when it becomes
available.