History of Flight
On May 4, 2019, about 1042 eastern daylight time, an experimental light-sport Alliant Aviation Destiny 2000 powered parachute, N65481, was destroyed in an accident near New Era, Michigan. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The flight was the pilot's first of the year in that aircraft.
Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft flying low when it turned and the canopy collapsed. The aircraft then entered a spiraling descent and impacted the ground. Two witnesses noted that the engine sound changed before the canopy collapsed. One witness at the accident site observed the aircraft on its side leaking fluid.
A GPS unit recovered from the wreckage recorded data from 10:25:56 to 10:41:36. At 10:40:36, the aircraft's speed was 26 knots and magnetic heading was 349.6 degrees. The heading then shifted from northwest to southeast. At 10:41:25, speed was 33 knots and heading was 174.6 degrees.
Personnel Information
The pilot's logbook showed the last entry dated September 9, 2018. It contained one flight review endorsement dated June 12, 2010. Although the pilot did not hold a flight instructor certificate, regular logbook entries were made for "dual given" in the accident aircraft.
Aircraft Information
The last condition inspection in the aircraft logbook was dated April 26, 2013. Subsequent maintenance entries (April 2015, July 2016, April 2018, April 2019) were routine owner-performed tasks such as changing oil, oil and air filters, and spark plugs. The April 8, 2019 entry included installation of new fuel lines. The canopy's data tag fields for model, serial number, and date of manufacture were blank.
The powered parachute, equipped with a Chiron canopy, had a maximum cruise speed of 25 to 30 mph (22 to 26 knots) and could reach speeds up to 45 mph (39 knots) in a diving turn. Information on the aircraft's stability noted that the powered parachute with the Chiron canopy "can be flown erratically relative to power so to upset normal flight," but that this is not catastrophic if sufficient altitude is available.
Meteorological Information
At 1039, the Tea Time weather station in New Era, Michigan recorded wind from the north/northeast at 1 mph, gusting to 5 mph. At 1044, wind was from the west/northwest at 1 mph, gusting to 5 mph.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Examination of the wreckage showed ground scarring limited to the area beneath the powered parachute frame. The left side of the frame sustained greater damage than the right, consistent with a left-banking impact with terrain. The canopy had no internal or external tears. All canopy lines were connected to the frame. Flight control continuity from the parachute to the controls was confirmed.
The engine was test run on the airframe using an external supply tank of automotive gasoline and the installed battery, revealing no anomalies.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy determined the cause of death as blunt impact to the torso. Toxicology testing at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory revealed tramadol (441 ng/mL in blood, 1,081 ng/mL in liver) and desmethyltramadol (94 ng/mL in blood, and in liver). Tramadol is an opioid analgesic prescription drug (Schedule IV narcotic) that carries a warning: "may impair the mental and/or physical abilities required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks such as driving a car or operating machinery." The usual therapeutic range is 50-500 ng/mL. According to the pilot's wife, the pilot had been prescribed tramadol for arthritis.