Return to the incident list: Incident List Trimming tree tops PPG Type: Type of Injury:

Pilot Details

Age: Weight: Gender: Highest rating held at the time of the incident: Pilot experience level:

Gear Details

Wing Brand: Model: Paratoys 30 Size: Paramotor Frame: Black Hawk w/Black Devil with

Incident Details

April 2, 2006 Location of the incident: , Type of Incident:

April 01, 2k6 Flying over widely variable terrain, aborted landing in a bowl-shaped valley ready to go around again, climbing with full throttle, mild brake input, trimmers IN over terrain that is angling upwards at the same angle I’m climbing, hit a dead air pocket. Didn’t really lose lift, just couldn’t get one tiny bit more. Ended up just clearing most of the trees, except one. A tree they call “Monkey Puzzle” (because of its tangled branches and sharp thorns)lay dead ahead of me. I tried to see if I could get just a little more lift by applying a pinch more brake as the treetop loomed closer. That didn’t work so I let that much brake back out. Still no change. About 20′ away I knew I was going to hit the very top, so just as I was within a couple of feet, I raised my boots up to seat height. The top-most branches scraped across the bottom of my seat and then were shredded by the prop as I passed about a foot and a half deep through the top of the tree. With a collection of Monkey Puzzle leaves lodged in the cage, I felt the wing surge forward of me as I was slowed by the branches. As soon as I was free of the tree, I slowly applied brake to dampen the surge, and then let it back out again as I started to swing back under the wing. Though I’m sure it looked pretty hideous, it felt as though I was able to correct and resume flight with very little disruption. Turned back to the LZ with some lazy “S” turns and on to a smooth landing. No injuries, no damage of any kind to equipment or property. Just “a little off the top” of one truly unfriendly tree.

Flight Window: Wind Speed: Type: Phase of Flight: Type of Injury: Collateral Damage: Analysis of the incident (additional input by the incident investigation team): Photos (if available):

Video (if available):
Other Files (if available):

Return to the incident list: Incident List