What happened
On April 12, 2014, at 15:46 UTC, a Vittorazi Motors – Fly 100 EVO paramotor was engaged in a recreational flight near the North Coast Beach in Sines, Portugal. The pilot was performing a foot-launch operation using a Powerplay Scorpio 22 wing.
During the flight, the pilot transitioned from the shoreline to flying at a very low altitude over the sea, approximately 100 meters from the coast. While executing a right-hand turn, the aircraft struck the water surface. The impact caused the engine and pilot to sink immediately. The pilot was unable to free himself from the harness underwater, resulting in one fatality.
The investigation
The GPIAAF examined the wreckage and the circumstances of the flight. Technical analysis of the recovered equipment revealed that the propeller blade was fractured and the protective structure was dented, which is consistent with a high-power impact with the water during a turn. The investigation also found that the throttle cable had been severed by the propeller.
Investigators noted that the total flying weight was approximately 140kg, which slightly exceeded the manufacturer's established limit of 135kg. Furthermore, the investigation found that the pilot's license had not been validated for the year 2014. The analysis also highlighted that the pilot was not wearing a life jacket, a critical factor given that the engine and fuel tank can act as a float that pulls an unreleased pilot underwater during a ditching.