Return to the incident list: Incident List A very close call PPG Type: Type of Injury:

Pilot Details

Age: 51 Weight: 160 Gender: Highest rating held at the time of the incident: Pilot experience level:

Gear Details

Wing Brand: Model: Size: Paramotor Frame: with

Incident Details

November 7, 2008 Location of the incident: , Type of Incident:

Pilot flying a small hp/cc clutch type motor rather than the belt driven type that constituted most of his hours. The unit had been having carb problems. At his LZ the pilot had been making adjustments & was frustrated. He finally got the motor running & was standing up when the motor died. He was not able to restart. To save time he unhooked from the motor & harness, which is separate, leaving the harness attached to the frame. Restarted motor, got into the harness, adjusted the carry straps & launched using a reverse inflation. It was a tight LZ suitable for advanced pilots, with power lines on 3 sides & trees on the other. At full power it did not appear that he would clear the power lines to the north & initiated a right turn. There was very little response so more brake was applied & weight shift added. Still very little turn & very slow ascent due to the smaller motor. A barn & large tree were ahead. Not able to increase the turn rate, the pilot had to go between the two, barely clearing the eve of the roof by a foot as he did so. Climbing higher he noticed the risers were farther apart than usual. Looking down he saw his chest strap was not connected, which he then buckled with much difficulty. Flight was then completed uneventfully. After landing the pilot then discovered his leg straps were also not connected.

Pilot said he had always put on & connected the 3 buckles on his harness prior to slipping into the motor carry straps. By breaking an established habit he could have had a very serious accident. Also as a result of having most of his time with a larger motor that favored right turns he felt very fortunate that this smaller hp/cc clutched motor had not caused a riser twist or lockout when the right turn was made at full power on this flight.

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