Return to the incident list: Incident List Hit Fence after engine out PPG Type: Type of Injury:

Pilot Details

Age: 48 Weight: 215 Gender: Highest rating held at the time of the incident: Pilot experience level:

Gear Details

Wing Brand: Model: apco thrust Size: Paramotor Frame: simo 122 on bullix trike with

Incident Details

August 30, 2011 Location of the incident: , Type of Incident:

Normal flight at about 500 ft with my trike until decending over the corner of a corn field/wires at about 100 ft when the motor suddenly quit. Not enough room to avoid tree line ahead, nor turn back into the corn, thus I elected to attempt a landing in a 250 ft grass horse paddock approx. 100 ft to my left. No room to s turn (against tree line and power lines) and despite holding as much brake as I felt I could safely, I floated long and hit the owners wooden fence taking out the bottom rail and striking my face, leg and arm against the railing with resulting lacerations. Upon examining the engine, I found that the plug had backed out of the hole (its a bottom mount set up). In retrospect, Ive always been so concerned about over torquing the plug in an aluminum head that I didnt seat it well enough and after about 12 hrs of flight time, it fell out. Ive now gone to torquing the plug per specs and safety wiring it. Damage included bend front axle, broken cage, minor prop damage, dislodged my reserve and braking my watch strap and gps. On the plus side, the homeowners were great and are looking forward to next years air hogs…. I always fly with an eye out for a engine out landing spot, but this caught me at just the wrong time.

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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