Powrachute AIRWOLF 912ULS N415BA

Summary

On 1 April 2012 at about 12:00 local time, a Powrachute AIRWOLF 912ULS registered N415BA, operated by Powrachute LLC, was involved in an accident near Plant City, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 April 2012 at 12:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Plant City, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Blackwater Creek Flightpark (9FD2)

Coordinates

28.1356, -82.1411

Aircraft

Powrachute AIRWOLF 912ULS

Registration

N415BA

Engines

1

Operator

Powrachute LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Plant City → Plant City

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12LA264

1 person was seriously injured.

The flight instructor’s failure to ensure an obstruction-free takeoff path prior to initiating the takeoff and his inadequate preflight inspection of the powered parachute’s flight controls, which resulted in a collision with trees during the takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor was providing a demonstration/instructional flight to the passenger the day after the powered parachute had been setup as a static display at an air show. After performing a preflight inspection and arranging the parachute, the flight instructor briefed the passenger that they would approach the runway from the northwest, and then depart along the runway to the south. The flight instructor then started the engine, “kited” the parachute, and proceeded southeast toward the runway and the 75-foot-tall trees along its eastern edge. Upon reaching the western edge of the runway, the flight instructor increased the engine power, and the powered parachute lifted off from the ground; however, it was still oriented at an angle to the runway, and it continued on its southeasterly track toward the trees ahead. The flight instructor attempted to use the steering controls of the parachute to steer the vehicle to the right away from the trees but found them to be ineffective. He then attempted to pull on both of the steering lines to give the parachute additional lift, but the vehicle then impacted the tops of the trees and fell to the ground. A postaccident examination revealed a noticeable relative difference in the adjusted length of the left and right steering lines, which was also evident in an onboard video of the accident flight. According to published FAA guidance regarding takeoffs in powered parachutes, “The takeoff surface should be firm, free of debris, and not have any obstructions along the takeoff path.”

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.