Ozone Forza 2 Harness Hook Knife Safety Notice
Ozone has issued the following safety notice:
“We have been made aware of a potential safety issue affecting some hook knives supplied by Ozone with the Forza 2 harness, as well as knives sold separately as accessories. In at least one reported case, a hook knife failed to cut a paraglider line during testing. All pilots who carry or rely on an Ozone hook knife must immediately check that their knife functions correctly.”
Ozone advises users to take a spare piece of paraglider line with a strength value greater than 50kg, apply tension to the line and then attempt to cut it using your hook knife.
“If the knife cuts the line easily and cleanly and remains visually unblemished: No further action is required.”
“If the knife fails to cut the line, struggles to cut, or the blade becomes damaged during the attempt: The knife should be replaced immediately.”
Anyone with this issue should contact their local dealer.
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How to Test Your Hook Knife: Step-by-Step Guide
Ozone has provided clear instructions for testing your hook knife. Do this now — before your next flight.
What You’ll Need
- A spare piece of paraglider line (break strength >50kg)
- Your Ozone hook knife
- Tension (you’ll need to apply force to the line)
The Test Procedure
Step 1: Take your spare paraglider line and apply tension to it (make sure it’s secured or held by someone else).
Step 2: Attempt to cut the line using your Ozone hook knife.
Step 3: Observe the results:
- PASS Condition:
If the knife cuts the line easily and cleanly AND the blade remains visually unblemished (no chips, no bends, no damage) → No further action is required. Your knife is good to go.
- FAIL Condition:
If the knife fails to cut the line, struggles to cut, OR the blade becomes damaged during the attempt → STOP. Replace the knife immediately.
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What to Do If Your Knife Fails
If your Ozone hook knife fails the test (can’t cut the line, struggles, or blade gets damaged), here’s what you need to do:
1. Stop Using It Immediately
Don’t risk it. If your knife failed the test, it’s not safe to use. Replace it before your next flight.
2. Contact Your Local Dealer
Ozone advises pilots to contact their local dealer if they have this issue.
Your dealer should be able to:
- Provide a replacement knife (likely free of charge, given this is a safety notice)
- Answer any questions about the recall/replacement process
- Ensure you get a tested, safe knife
3. Don’t Fly Without a Working Knife
This should go without saying, but: never fly without a functioning hook knife.
If your knife fails the test and you can’t get a replacement immediately, don’t fly until you have a working knife.
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Why This Matters: The Importance of a Reliable Hook Knife
You hope you’ll never need your hook knife.
But if you do, it needs to work — perfectly, every time.
Real-World Scenarios Where You Need Your Knife
- Line entanglement: Your brake lines or risers get tangled, and you can’t untangle them in the air.
- Canopy collapse: Your wing collapses and lines wrap around you.
- Reserve deployment: You need to cut away your main canopy after deploying your reserve.
- Tree landing: You’re suspended in a tree and need to cut yourself free.
In any of these scenarios, seconds matter. You don’t want to be struggling with a dull or defective knife while you’re 500 meters above the ground.
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Hook Knife Maintenance: Best Practices
Even if your knife passes the test today, regular maintenance is essential.
1. Test Your Knife Regularly
Don’t just test it once and forget about it. Test your knife:
- Before every flying season
- Every 6 months (set a reminder on your phone)
- After any incident where you used the knife
2. Keep It Dry and Clean
Rust is the enemy of sharpness. After flying in wet conditions:
- Rinse your knife with fresh water
- Dry it thoroughly
- Apply a light coat of oil to prevent rust
3. Store It Properly
Don’t just toss your knife in your harness pocket. Store it:
- In its designated sheath (if it has one)
- Easily accessible (you need to reach it quickly in an emergency)
- Away from moisture
4. Replace It Periodically
Even the best hook knives degrade over time. Ozone’s safety notice is a reminder that knives can fail.
Replace your hook knife every:
- 2-3 years (for regular pilots)
- Immediately if you drop it on a hard surface (blade could be damaged)
- Immediately if it shows any signs of rust, chips, or dullness
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Ozone’s Response: What They’re Doing About It
Credit to Ozone for being proactive about this.
Instead of waiting for an accident to happen, they’ve:
- Issued a public safety notice
- Provided clear testing instructions
- Advised pilots to contact dealers for replacements
This is exactly how a responsible manufacturer should handle a potential safety issue.
If you’re affected, don’t get angry at Ozone. Get your knife tested — and if it fails, contact your dealer for a replacement.
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The Bottom Line: Don’t Ignore This
We get it.
You’re busy. You’ve got a flying trip planned this weekend. You don’t want to deal with one more thing.
But this isn’t optional.
Your hook knife could save your life. And if it fails when you need it most, you’ll wish you’d tested it today.
Action Checklist
- Find your Ozone hook knife (or check if you have one supplied with your Forza 2 harness)
- Get a spare piece of paraglider line (strength >50kg)
- Perform the cut test (follow instructions above)
- If it fails: Contact your dealer immediately for a replacement
- If it passes: Test it again in 6 months
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Stay Safe Out There
Paragliding is an inherently risky sport.
But with proper equipment maintenance and regular safety checks, you can minimize those risks.
Ozone’s safety notice is a reminder: your equipment needs regular attention. Don’t assume it’ll work just because it worked last time.
Test your hook knife today. Your future self will thank you.