Accident
On June 18, 2011, at approximately 2015 mountain daylight time, an unregistered Six Chuter Skye Ryder Aerochute SR7XL, a two-place weight-shift powered parachute, impacted terrain about 10 miles west of Tooele, Utah. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was killed in the accident sequence. The powered parachute, owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The flight, operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 for personal pleasure, had departed the Iosepa Recreation Area about 15 minutes prior to the accident in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was filed.
Background
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the scene, about 30 minutes before the accident, the pilot contacted the individual who had been teaching him to fly the parachute. During that interaction, the pilot mentioned he was considering flying, but the instructor told him that the wind was well beyond the parachute's limits and advised against taking it into the air. The pilot continued to express a desire to fly, prompting the instructor to express safety concerns and offer to check the wind conditions at the intended flying area. When the instructor arrived near the location where he expected to find the pilot, he discovered the pilot and the wreckage of the parachute entangled in a barbed wire fence. After calling 911, he noted that the winds at the site were variable and blowing about 30 knots with gusts to about 35 knots.
Investigation
The FAA inspector observed a terrain impact scar about 20 feet east of the barbed wire fence, with numerous airframe components from the parachute surrounding the area. The on-scene examination of the parachute, its engine, and associated airframe revealed no anomalies that would have contributed to a loss of control. The inspector also noted that the propeller's scars indicated the engine was producing power at impact.
Further investigation determined that the powered parachute did not qualify for operation under Federal Aviation Regulation Part 103 (ultralight aircraft) and had not been registered with the FAA. The pilot did not possess an FAA pilot certificate or airman medical certificate and had flown only four previous times in a powered parachute.
Manufacturer Statements
The NTSB Investigator-In-Charge contacted the manufacturer to discuss the SR7XL's wind limitations. The manufacturer stated that a person with only four flights (totaling about four hours due to fuel duration) should only fly in calm or very light winds and only with direct radio contact with an on-site instructor. While a very experienced pilot could manage the aircraft in 30 mph winds, the manufacturer would not expect someone with only four flights to control the aircraft in such conditions. Most pilots typically avoid flying in winds exceeding 10 to 15 mph. The forward airspeed of the aircraft is in the low to mid 20 mph range, meaning that even when flying into the wind, the aircraft could travel backward over the ground.
Toxicology
An autopsy by the Utah State Medical Examiner determined the cause of death as blunt force injuries. Forensic toxicology tests by the Utah Department of Health were negative for ethanol, isopropanol, methanol, acetone, morphine, cocaine, methamphetamine, tetrahydrocannabinol, and prescription drugs. The carboxyhemoglobin level was 1.6%, within normal range for a non-smoking adult. The FAA's Civil Aerospace Medical Institute did not perform toxicology testing as no samples were provided.