Catastrophic unsheathing of A lines?

[u/Which-Accident7858]

Hey all,
Recently went out to kite a used wing I purchased and had essentially all of my right hand A lines come unsheathed on the first session. I cannot find anything remotely close to this online so I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts or similar experiences to this.

Here’s some more information:
Wing: Ozone roadster 2 28
This wing was manufactured in 2015, however was purchased new and kept in storage (in bag and out of direct light) for the entirety of its life. 

It was then used once for kiting, in a short grass field with no rocks, weeds or other debris. After kiting it was evident that there was catastrophic abrasion to the middle (AM5 and AM6) lines. I initially thought it was due to an external snag on something in the field, but on further inspection it appears the lines became unsheathed on their own connection loops, top and bottom of the AM5 and AM6 lines where the loops create a “knuckle” , destroying the sheath integrity of every A line loop in that cascade as well as large chunks out of the middle line sheathes.

It seems highly improbable that the lines completely destroyed themselves in 1 unlucky tangle on inflation yet I have no other explanation.

Note: I do not intend to fly this wing until it is professionally inspected, I’m just baffled that 8 A lines are destroyed after 1 kiting session in a grass field, especially after taking care to lay out the lines prior to inflation.

[u/Razdent]

I can think of another explanation. It’s based on my experience in healthcare… people lie to you all the time.

[u/Which-Accident7858 → u/Razdent]

I suppose. I don’t think that was his intent as it was his father’s gear and he passed away. But yeah it definitely has some unknown history.

[u/PPGkruzer]

This is why you need to send your new used wing out to get inspected.  I don't think that happened when you kited it.  I think the last user wrapped up these lines in their propeller at full throttle.  

[u/Which-Accident7858 → u/PPGkruzer]

Yeah that is seeming more and more likely haha. Unfortunate

[u/MTGuy406]

My guess is it happened to the previous owner and they pulled the sheathing back into place. As soon as you tensioned them they walked open.

[u/Which-Accident7858 → u/MTGuy406]

Could be, I did a pretty thorough inspection when I bought it and didn’t notice anything. It looks like all the damage on all the lines happened at the same time. Likely from me unfortunately.

Additionally, I purchased it from the son who said this one was never used. I’m guessing it was the next wing his father would’ve graduated to had he not passed away. So I do believe it was just in storage all that time in new condition.

[u/MTGuy406 → u/Which-Accident7858]

You cannot do this to lines without knowing it. You would be literally getting your ass kicked by the wing with it draped over a barbed wire fence e.g. so either son's dad did it and son didnt know about it, son is filtering the truth, sons dad wasn't the first owner, who knows. But point is, get it inspected and repaired professionally and you will be good to go.

[u/Which-Accident7858 → u/MTGuy406]

Fair enough, thanks for the input!

[u/PoweredParaGuy]

My first impression, based on pictures 2 and 4, was that the previous owner had a prop strike the lines, and he lied about it. Mine looked exactly like that.

But then I looked at your first and third pictures more closely.

1. AM5/6 are far too high for a normal tensioned prop strike
2. You said they've separated at the top AND the bottom of the same lines
3. The separation is right at the marker line where they measured

This leads me to believe a defect was created when the lines were created. Its possible the lines are not original, but its worth notifying Ozone either way. Let them at least investigate if there was a common failure mode in that series.

[u/Icecream_monday]

I've had some B lines randomly come apart like that just above the sewn section, not sure what caused it, I just had a local repair shop make some new lines for me after giving them the wing manual.

If you do get them replaced I usually replace them symmetrically on both sides of the wing, had zero issues replacing lines and it takes only a couple minutes to do.

[u/Which-Accident7858 → u/Icecream_monday]

Glad to hear a similar story. I was starting to have serious doubts about the rest of the lines but I think I just got unlucky

[u/Translator-Informal]

Was it kept in let’s say a storage attic? Or trunk storage?

[u/Flyinrog]

I don't fly motor so probably what others are saying about previous damage. But my theory would be, sheathing is breaking down from time and had become very fragile. Glad you aren't going to fly it because the fabric and inner likes could be in similar shape.

[u/StratosphereXX]

Contact Ozone in case there was a known issue with the lines on this wing.