What happened
On April 20, 2018, a paramotor pilot was conducting a training flight when they encountered significant downdrafts. Unable to maintain the necessary altitude to return to the airfield in Rudnikach, the pilot decided to execute an immediate emergency landing near Kościelec.
During the descent, the pilot failed to notice an overhead power line. The canopy of the Hadron-Cabrio became entangled in the electrical wires. While the landing was an emergency maneuver, the pilot sustained no injuries.
Physical damage to the equipment included a broken propeller on the propulsion unit, damage to two wheels on the Air One Pro trike, and two 10 cm punctures in the outer cells of the canopy.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the loss of altitude and the pilot's approach to the landing site. The inquiry established that the pilot's inability to maintain altitude necessitated the landing, but the subsequent entanglement was due to a lack of situational awareness regarding terrain obstacles.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was pilot error involving inadequate terrain observation during the emergency landing procedure.
- The pilot failed to identify the presence of the power lines prior to the canopy making contact with the wires.
Safety action
The operator has implemented preventive measures to increase the distance flown from terrain obstacles, improve familiarity with the obstacles surrounding the airfield, and ensure flight paths are planned with sufficient clearance over all hazards.