What happened
On October 27, 2016, at approximately 17:20 LMT, a paramotor pilot was conducting a training flight near Dębica, Poland. The pilot had previously flown for about 40 minutes earlier that day but had landed briefly to warm up due to the cold. Upon relaunching, the pilot began performing a series of high-bank turns at an altitude of approximately 20 meters.
After about one minute of flight, while at an altitude of only 7 meters, the pilot initiated another steep turn. During this maneuver, the right side of the Dudek SNAKE XX wing entered turbulent air created by the aircraft's own wake. Simultaneously, while the pilot was applying brake input, the speed system bar was pressed. This combination of forces caused the wing to collapse, resulting in a ground impact during a right-hand rotation. The pilot sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the technical state of the aircraft, the pilot's experience, and the flight dynamics. The investigation confirmed that the wing was in very good technical condition and that the pilot was an active flyer with approximately 400 total hours of experience.
Investigators analyzed the wing's loading, calculating the total weight of the pilot and equipment at approximately 148.3 kg. While within the permissible limits for advanced pilots, this weight placed the wing in a high-loading category, which makes the wing more reactive to turbulence and control inputs. The investigation also reviewed the use of the 'Power Attack' (PA) system, which was connected to the aircraft, and noted that the pilot had released the trim during the maneuver.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the collapse of the right side of the wing caused by the pilot pressing the speed bar while applying brake input during a steep turn, combined with the wing encountering its own wake turbulence.
- The pilot's experience specifically with the Dudek SNAKE XX was limited, as this was only his fourth flight on this specific model.
- The pilot had not thoroughly reviewed the manufacturer's User Manual, which warns that the SNAKE XX is a demanding wing designed for advanced pilots and that high-speed maneuvers can lead to dynamic collapses.
- The high wing loading increased the aircraft's sensitivity to both control inputs and turbulence.