What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2020-05-27 involved a aircraft, at IE.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by the pilot's failure to adjust the wing trim settings after executing a turn, leading to a rapid loss of altitude and subsequent impact with overhead power lines.

Paramotor Collision with Power Lines Near Camp, Co. Kerry

A paramotor pilot sustained minor injuries after an unregistered Parajet Thor 130 struck electrical transmission cables during a flight in County Kerry.

What happened

On May 27, 2020, a pilot operating an unregistered Parajet Thor 130 departed Magharees, Co. Kerry, for a short leisure flight. During the flight, the pilot flew over a caravan park near the village of Camp. While attempting to turn the aircraft to return to the departure point, the pilot failed to adjust the wing trim settings to compensate for the change in flight conditions. This oversight caused the aircraft to experience a sudden and rapid loss of altitude.

As the aircraft descended, it struck and became entangled in overhead electrical transmission cables. The impact caused the cables to break, resulting in the aircraft and pilot falling to the ground. The pilot sustained minor injuries, specifically cuts to the face that required hospital treatment. The collision also caused a power outage affecting approximately 1,000 homes after the lines remained live for 53 seconds before the circuit breaker tripped.

The investigation

The AAIU investigation examined the aircraft, the pilot's credentials, and the environmental conditions. The investigation established that the Parajet Thor 130 was not registered and did not possess a flight permit. The pilot, who had approximately 700 hours of flying experience, was not holding a current medical certificate or a valid pilot license for operations in Ireland at the time of the accident.

Investigators also reviewed the aircraft's trim system, noting that the wing trims were set "fully out" to assist with flying into the wind. The investigation also looked into the meteorological conditions, which were characterized by light, variable winds and clear skies, concluding that wind was not a primary factor in the descent.

Findings

The primary cause of the accident was the failure to adjust wing trim settings following a turn, which led to an unrecoverable rapid descent.
The pilot did not identify the electrical transmission cables in time to perform an avoidance maneuver.
The aircraft was operating without registration or a flight permit.
The pilot was not flying with a valid medical certificate or appropriate licensing.
Electrical wires are inherently difficult to detect from the air due to visual camouflage and human eye limitations.