Return to the incident list: Incident List Sinking air – wing quit flying PPG Type: Type of Injury:

Pilot Details

Age: 43 Weight: 205 Gender: Highest rating held at the time of the incident: Pilot experience level:

Gear Details

Wing Brand: Model: Dudek Reaction 27 Size: Paramotor Frame: Black Hawk Rhino with M25Y motor + 1/2 tank fuel with

Incident Details

April 20, 2008 Location of the incident: , Type of Incident:

Flying alone, low and slow (5′ agl) above a flat, open crop field (crops not growing yet). Heading was directly into the wind. The 10 minute flight up to this point had been pretty smooth but wind was variable from maybe 3 to 9 mph (or so). I was about 200 yds from a group of 2-story apartment buildings and was about to power up, climb and go around for another low pass. A gust of wind came up and picked the wing up to about 15′ agl. The wing then started sinking and falling to the left but did not collapse. I powered up to try to fly through the sink, but the wing did not start flying again. I hit the ground feet first and went to my hands and knees, also dragging my elbows on the dirt. The comfort bars hit the ground when the wind pulled the wing sideways for about 6′.

The prop hit and cut through (destroyed) the gas tank. This was one of the original BH tanks that is about 2″ from the tank. The only prop damage was a crack in the end about 6″ long. There was no frame damage at all. I received a few cuts and scrapes from the dirt and dead, thorny weeds in the field, but no other injuries.

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):

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