What happened
On April 30, 2016, at approximately 6:51 LMT, a paramotor accident occurred at the Aeroklub Ziemi Mazowieckiej airfield in Płock (EPPL). The pilot took off at 6:49 LMT for what was intended to be a competitive flight, though evidence suggests he had decided to fly a non-competitive flight to familiarize himself with his equipment.
Shortly after reaching an altitude of approximately 90 meters and beginning a descent to 60 meters, the aircraft entered a violent left-hand turn accompanied by a rapid loss of altitude. The aircraft entered a configuration resembling a spiral dive, with the wing cells facing the ground and the cart positioned above the wing. The aircraft struck the ground at high speed, resulting in the death of the pilot and the total destruction of the Hadron XX 20 paramotor.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined flight data from a Garmin GPSmap and an AMOD device, as well as surveillance footage from the airfield. The investigation established that the aircraft was significantly overweight, with a takeoff mass of approximately 166.3 kg, exceeding the maximum allowable takeoff mass by roughly 16.3 kg.
Investigators also noted that the pilot was using the Aerodynamical Flaps System (AFS) without the protective neoprene covers that had been previously recommended by the manufacturer. Furthermore, while the pilot was a highly experienced member of the National Paramotor Team, he had only approximately three hours of flight time on this specific wing model. The investigation also found that the pilot was operating the engine throttle with his left hand, which was positioned near the trim release mechanism.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of control of the paramotor, likely triggered by the accidental release of the main trim on the left side of the wing. This occurred either because the pilot mistakenly grabbed the main trim buckle instead of the AFS buckle, or because the throttle lever, held in the left hand, inadvertently pressed the buckle.
- The resulting asymmetry—with the main trim released on the left side but still engaged on the right—caused the aircraft to veer sharply.
- The pilot's attempt to correct the flight path likely led to a sudden left turn and the subsequent spiral dive.
- Contributing factors included the pilot's limited experience with this specific high-performance wing and established habits from flying wings without the AFS system.
- The excessive takeoff weight may have also influenced the aircraft's handling and the severity of the event.