What happened
On August 3, 2018, at approximately 19:57 LMT, a pilot and a passenger departed from a landing field in Bartoszyce for a scenic flight. The flight initially proceeded normally, reaching a maximum altitude of approximately 760 meters AGL. However, during the return leg toward the landing field, while at an altitude of about 100 meters, the aircraft entered a spiral dive.
This loss of control was triggered when the left wing line detached from the carriage. The pilot attempted to deploy the reserve parachute, but the deployment failed because the left line of the reserve parachute was attached to the same carabiner that had failed. The aircraft subsequently struck power lines at a speed of approximately 110 km/ and then impacted the ground. The accident resulted in one fatality (the passenger) and one minor injury (the pilot).
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the aircraft, a Hadron Cabrio paramotor, and the flight data recorder. The investigation included a strength test of the carabiner used to connect the wing lines to the carriage. Investigators also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance history, noting that the wing had not undergone a required inspection since its purchase in 2016. Additionally, the investigation looked into the weight and balance of the aircraft, noting that the takeoff mass was approximately 304 kg, slightly exceeding the wing's maximum limit of 300 kg, and significantly exceeding the reserve parachute's 210 kg limit.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the failure of the carabiner connecting the wing lines to the carriage, which led to a loss of control.
- Strength testing revealed that the carabiner's breaking strength was significantly lower than the manufacturer's specifications.
- The reserve parachute was inadequate for the actual takeoff mass, as the total weight exceeded the parachute's maximum limit by approximately 94 kg.
- The wing had not been inspected within the manufacturer's recommended 24-month interval.
- The reserve parachute deployment attempt failed because the parachute's attachment point was linked to the failing component.