Return to the incident list: Incident List Full Collapse on Takeoff – 50 to 75 Foot Fall to G PPG Type: Type of Injury:

Pilot Details

Age: 35 Weight: 205 Gender: Highest rating held at the time of the incident: Pilot experience level:

Gear Details

Wing Brand: Model: Action GT 26 Size: Paramotor Frame: Flyproducts Power Gold 130, low attachement weight shift with

Incident Details

May 2, 2008 Location of the incident: , Type of Incident:

On April 19, 2008 around 6:20 pm I encountered a massive downdraft on takeoff which caused a collapse of approximately 95% of my wing around 50 to 75 feet in the air. I have over 800 hours experience and was flying a reflex wing and a low attachment weight shift motor. I was not in reflex mode when the deflation occurred. We were flying a wide open grassy hill named Chapel Hill which has been a hang gliding/paragliding training hill for years. I had been up for over an hour prior to the accident and it was very active and therefore I choose to fly in full reflex around 500 to 1000 feet agl on my first flight. Just prior to my 2nd launch the forecast was showing 12 mph on the surface and 16 mph at 3,000 feet. Several pilots were now getting ready to fly figuring we would have smooth consistent winds for the remainder of the evening. I was at a point on the hill that was clear of any obstacle and would not have anticipated any type of mechanical rotor. My first attempt at pulling up the wing was just shy of getting it over my head as the winds briefly died down for a moment. My second attempt came up clean and as I took off I immediately was in good ridge lift at which time I let up on the throttle and focused on flying the wing since I was half way out over the hill and now approximately 50 to 75 feet in the air. My leg straps were pretty tight so I wasnt trying to get in my seat and was very comfortable with the takeoff when all of a sudden I felt the right side of my wing collapse and I immediately weight shifted to the left only to realize there was nothing on my left either. My weight shift just turned me left going sideways to the hill and facing the ground at about a 45 degree angle. I tried to shut down the motor only to accidentally throttle up while pushing the kill switch. This added about 5 to 6 mph to my impact but also swung me out a little and may have helped spread out the crash. According to fellow pilots the wing showed no sign of re-iflation the entire way down. I hit left foot first and then my butt at what seemed to me about a 50 mph impact. I accepted my fate at about 20 feet before hitting and did not resist the impact or try to put my hands or feet down. When I hit the ground I bounced a few feet in the air and proceeded to roll 3 times end over end down the hill. When I stopped rolling I yelled for help about 3 times before seeing someone come running over to me. I was lying with my motor on my back and pointing slightly downhill which was pulling my straps and made it impossible for me to get the buckles off on the right side. I never lost conciseness at any point but I knew I broke my back almost immediately or assumed so because a human body is just not meant to hit the ground as hard as I did. Thankfully I was with about 10 people who immediately called for an ambulance and also assisted in removing my wing and motor from my back. The paramedics arrived in a few moments and immediately requested a medi-vac helicopter. I was in the trauma unit within 30 minutes from the crash. I exploded my 1st lumber which required 2 pins and 4 screws to fix my back, a sprained ankle and bruising of my entire hip area. I was extremely close to being paralyzed or dead and if I had not landed on a grassy slope my outcome would have been much worse according to the doctors. Currently I have been in the hospital for 8 days and I am writing this report from my hospital room. I typically fly 90% of the time by myself and had I been alone I would have been stranded in a field without the ability to unhook or get to my phone. Below are 2 links to the rescue services reports on the incident. http://www.modena37.com/index.cfm?fs=news.newsView&News_ID=141 http://www.westwoodfire.com/index.cfm?fs=news.newsView&News_ID=474

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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