Accident with Nene Rotor

[wmelo]

Brazilian champion of hang gliding is dragged by wind and falls in the interior of SP after taking off in MG
According to the corporation, the victim jumped from hang gliding in Andradas (MG) and traveled for about 180 km in the air. He had the route diverted because of a strong wind.

https://g1.globo.com/sp/sorocaba-jundia ... iros.ghtml


Brazilian wingman Delta Alvaro Figueiredo Sandoli, known as Nenê Rotor, was dragged for about 180 kilometers and had to make a forced landing in Campo Limpo Paulista (SP), on Saturday afternoon (17).
According to the Fire Department, Alvaro Figueiredo Sandoli, 54, took off from hang gliding in Andradas (MG), but had the route diverted because of a strong wind.
TV TEM spoke with the athlete's son who stated that Álvaro planned to land in Atibaia (SP). He further states that it was not an accident and that the flight was being monitored.
His landing was witnessed by a resident of Jundiaí. Rotor was rescued by the Fire Department of Jundiaí and taken to the Clinical Hospital of Campo Limpo Paulista, with minor injuries to the head, and was discharged.
The pilot, who currently lives in Bragança Paulista (SP), began to fly hang gliding as a teenager and has already accumulated five Brazilian titles in the category. In addition, he lives professionally from the sport.

[John Simon]

Sounds like Nene is OK. Very glad to hear it. I met him last year in FL at the Quest comp and again up in Midwest and down in Brazil. He is a very nice guy and I saw him take time out of his day numerous times to help others (significant considering he usually showed up at the last minute to launch!). He makes amazing harnesses and does a great job supporting his customers. He is an amazing XC pilot and has been a great ambassador for our sport for many years. Thanks for the report.


John

[wmelo]

Nene sent a message to Brazilian pilots about his accident. Please find it here (informally translated!)

"Guys, yesterday the Jundiaí media announced that a pilot was dragged and fell in a neighborhood in Campo Limpo ..... pure lie !!

One of the most spectacular flights I've ever done, very technical !! I planned a fly with waypoint in Campinas and goal in Atibaia, I decided to change my flying plans 30 kilometers before Campinas to escape the clouds that were getting very heavy. At that moment the flight was extremely technical flying low and in the shade crossing a large area without landing. I was going to stay there but the things improved and I got to Dom Pedro feeling I could arrive but there was a giant CB pouring out, I started to go around it on the right, as the CB was moving towards Bragança, I kept waiting for the CB to pass and so I could turn and land on the goal, but it started to grow again there when the flight was spectacular, I flew on the side of that gigantic monster !!
I kept fleeing to “Campo Lindo”: only place without cloud. Leaving the CB area was already in Campo Field in a mountainous area without landing, only a few hills to “mosquetar”, but the flight was smooth and tranquil. I found a ravine to land. The wind was SW smooth to 100 of the ground, when suddenly it entered an East with 50 km / h !! Sinister!!!
I had to improvise in a ragged ravine the wing was out of control with so much turbulence was very difficult is the landing was small but I managed to approach, only that 5 meters from the ground the wing collapsed and hit hard on the ground, I hit the face on the ground on top of a stone I had a deep cut in the mouth but already I'm sewing recovering, nothing serious !!!"

[Lucky_Chevy]

I'm glad he is ok. As John said, he's a nice guy that went well out of his way to help other pilots. Nene showed off some of his harnesses at the Midwest last summer. He does some beautiful work and is evidently a perfectionist.

Seems like he has a fair amount of grit and is cool AF to be able to play off a collapse from 5m into a ravine...it's only a flesh wound.

[Danny Brotto]

This is an interesting story but did this happen in a hang glider or paraglider? What "collapsed" on him at low altitude?

Danny Brotto

[Danny Brotto]

Does "collapsed" translate to "the bottom fell out"?

Danny Brotto

[wmelo]

I do not think so. Reading again his post in Portuguese, it seems the glider lost air support and both glider and pilot "fell" on the ground.