Return to the incident list: Incident List Asymmetrical wing collapse in rotor PPG Type: Foot Launch Type of Injury: No Injury
Pilot Details
Age: 58 Weight: 165 Gender: Male Highest rating held at the time of the incident: Intermediate – PPG 2 Pilot experience level: 10-50 hours
Gear Details
Wing Brand: Niviuk Model: Link 2 Size: 23 Paramotor Frame: Parajet Maverick with Atom 80
Incident Details
February 5, 2022 5:00 PM Location of the incident: Glamis, California Type of Incident: Pilot Error
One of the largest dunes in the area, about 200 feet tall, was at my one o’clock. I approached the dune on the leeward side and began to feel an increase in buffeting. There seemed to be a periodic phase to the turbulence as my right riser suddenly dropped about a foot, my machine listed starboard. At that time I realized I was entering an area of rotor and I initiated a quick turn to the left, hoping to exit the wind shadow. Unfortunately, the turn set me up for the next gust, five seconds later, which collapsed the right half of the wing. I struggled for support from the tight left riser, as the right riser collapsed, but the risers quickly twisted and spun me powerfully around two revolutions. Luckily, with half of the wing still flying, the rate of descent was controlled. From fifty feet, the fall was survivable and I suffered no injury. I failed to kill my engine before impact, so the prop was destroyed rolling around in the sand and a small piece of shrapnel tore a hole in the wing. It was a blessing being able to walk away from the crash.
Flight Window: Evening Wind Speed: Moderate Wind (5-9 mph) Type: Steady / Laminar Phase of Flight: Cruise/In Flight Type of Injury: No Injury Collateral Damage: None Analysis of the incident (additional input by the incident investigation team): Photos (if available): https://usppa.org/frm_file/aWQ6Nzk5MXxmaWxlbmFtZToxLmpwZ3xzaXplOnRodW1ibmFpbA==, https://usppa.org/frm_file/aWQ6Nzk5MnxmaWxlbmFtZToyLmpwZ3xzaXplOnRodW1ibmFpbA==, https://usppa.org/frm_file/aWQ6Nzk5M3xmaWxlbmFtZTozLmpwZ3xzaXplOnRodW1ibmFpbA==, https://usppa.org/frm_file/aWQ6Nzk5NHxmaWxlbmFtZTo0LmpwZ3xzaXplOnRodW1ibmFpbA==, https://usppa.org/frm_file/aWQ6Nzk5NXxmaWxlbmFtZTo1LmpwZ3xzaXplOnRodW1ibmFpbA==, https://usppa.org/frm_file/aWQ6Nzk5NnxmaWxlbmFtZTpwb3N0LWNyYXNoLmpwZWd8c2l6ZTp0aHVtYm5haWw=
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