What happened
On March 28, 2019, at approximately 17:30 LMT, a pilot was conducting a visual flight at a designated paramotor takeoff and landing site in Kutno, Poland. After performing a pre-flight inspection of the PPG APCO FORCE M paramotor and its engine, the pilot initiated a takeoff.
During the initial climb, at an altitude of approximately 30 meters, the tip of the propeller detached. Fearing a collision with an obstacle located along the flight path, the pilot executed a turn back toward the takeoff area. Following this maneuver, while flying on a straight path, the aircraft experienced an increased rate of descent. The pilot shut down the engine prior to the impact, but the aircraft ultimately struck a metal fence. The pilot sustained multi-organ injuries as a result of the crash.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the technical state of the equipment, which included an APCO FORCE M wing, a 125 cm3 VENTOR engine, and a WERENC propeller. The investigation established that the pilot, a 43-year-old male with approximately 300 flight hours on this specific setup, had been using the equipment for about four years. The investigation also assessed the environmental conditions and the sequence of maneuvers following the mechanical failure.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the improper execution of the landing maneuver.
- The sudden delamination of the propeller tip led to a loss of engine thrust.
- The presence of obstacles along the flight path contributed to the accident.
- The pilot's limited experience was a contributing factor.