Moore, UT, USA
N582UT
Buckeye BREEZE
The pilot flew to a landmark in his powered parachute aircraft with a group of four other powered parachute aircraft. After landing and spending some time at the landmark, the pilot and the group then returned to their aircraft to depart. The first two aircraft departed the area and circled above the takeoff area while they waited for the other aircraft to depart. Each of the pilots had established communications on a common radio frequency that they used to announce their position and intentions. The accident aircraft lifted off the ground about 200 ft and immediately entered a steep left bank angle. The pilot reported over the radio that he was experiencing a problem, and a member of the group advised him to land. While still in a steep left turn, the aircraft made about one and a half revolutions near the departure area then began a steady descent from a low altitude. The aircraft impacted the ground and came to rest on its right side. A postaccident photograph showed the left steering line draped over a bracket that attached the light beacon to the aircraft frame. A technical expert described how the steering line could have become wrapped around the bracket by moving the riser that was positioned above it. This would have created a pinch point and prevented the line from being moved in any direction, thus inhibiting the pilot’s ability to steer the aircraft. As there were no other mechanical anomalies with the aircraft, the pinch point in the steering line was likely the problem the pilot reported during the accident flight. It is unknown if the pilot performed any preflight inspection of the aircraft before departing on the accident flight. However, had he performed a thorough inspection of the steering lines and pulled them taut as discussed in the Federal Aviation Administration’s guidance, it is likely that he would have detected the pinch point and prevented the in-flight loss of control. Thus, the pilot’s improper preflight inspection and failure to ensure the continuity of the aircraft steering lines resulted in a loss of control in flight and impact with terrain.
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn October 5, 2019, about 1140 mountain daylight time, a Buckeye Industries Breeze powered parachute aircraft (PPC), N582UT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Moore, Utah. The pilot was fatally injured. The PPC was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to witnesses, the pilot had flown to a local landmark known as the Sid and Charley Pinnacle with four other PPC pilots. Following an uneventful inbound flight, the group touched down near the rock outcropping and spent some time taking photographs of the panoramic views. After an hour, the group prepared their PPCs for the return flight home. The first two PPC pilots departed normally to the east and circled the departure area at about 200 ft above ground level (agl) and 150 ft agl, respectively, while they waited for the remainder of the group to take off. According to one of two remaining witnesses on the ground, the accident pilot departed after an approximate ground roll of about 200 ft, in an eastern direction. The accident PPC entered a steep left bank immediately after it lifted off the ground. The accident pilot reported over the group’s selected radio frequency that he was experiencing a problem, and one of the pilots on the ground advised him to land. The accident PPC made one and a half revolutions near the departure area and entered a steady descent from about 50 ft agl before it impacted the rising face of a 4-ft deep ravine. The PPC came to rest on its right side. Photographs of the aircraft after the accident furnished by law enforcement showed that the left steering line was wrapped around the bracket of a light beacon behind the pilot’s seat (see figure 1). According to an instructor and witness to the event, the steering line wrapped around the strobe light would have created a pinch point and prevented the line from moving in either direction. AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONAccording to one witness, this particular aircraft was equipped with a steering line that connected the right and left pedals to the trailing edges of the right and left wings (parachute). Figure 1: Aircraft after accident and left steering line Examination of a photograph taken by a member of the flying group when the accident aircraft landed at Sid and Charley Pinnacles showed the left steering line at the beacon (see figure 2). In this photograph, the riser was draped over the top of the aircraft resting on a bracket that held the beacon to a structural tube (see figure 2). According to the instructor, the steering line had enough slack to wrap down around the strobe (see inset 1 in figure 3). As the chute inflated overhead, the steering line would have risen around the beacon and created a pinch point (see inset 2 in figure 3). Figure 2: Photograph of accident aircraft after it landed at Sid and Charley Pinnacle Figure 3: AIRPORT INFORMATIONAccording to one witness, this particular aircraft was equipped with a steering line that connected the right and left pedals to the trailing edges of the right and left wings (parachute). Figure 1: Aircraft after accident and left steering line Examination of a photograph taken by a member of the flying group when the accident aircraft landed at Sid and Charley Pinnacles showed the left steering line at the beacon (see figure 2). In this photograph, the riser was draped over the top of the aircraft resting on a bracket that held the beacon to a structural tube (see figure 2). According to the instructor, the steering line had enough slack to wrap down around the strobe (see inset 1 in figure 3). As the chute inflated overhead, the steering line would have risen around the beacon and created a pinch point (see inset 2 in figure 3). Figure 2: Photograph of accident aircraft after it landed at Sid and Charley Pinnacle Figure 3: WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONAn aircraft examination was performed by a certified flight instructor who was familiar with the functionality of the accident aircraft with oversight from the Federal Aviation Administration. The examination did not reveal any anomalies with the flight control system. The engine functioned normally when tested. ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONAccording to the Federal Aviation Administration Powered Parachute Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-29): “The walk around is thorough and systematic, and should be done the same way each and every time an aircraft will be flown…A powered parachute walk around will cover five main tasks: Cart inspection Powerplant inspection Equipment check Engine warm-up and check Wing and suspension line inspection” Section 5-12, Wing Inspection, cautions pilots to examine the lines to ensure they flow freely through all guides and pulleys. The excerpt states to “pull slack from the steering line so that the steering bars are fully retracted. Physically separating the steering lines from the suspension lines, pulling them out and away to the outer edge of the wingtips, enables you to visually see the steering lines are free from being tangled with the rest of the lines.”
The pilot’s improper preflight inspection and detection of a pinch point in the steering line, which resulted in a loss of control in flight and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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