What happened
On the evening of June 15, 2022, a paramotor pilot was conducting flights at the Radawiec aerodrome (EPLR) in Poland. During one of the flights, at approximately 20:05 local time, the paramotor struck the ground with a rightward tilt. The impact caused the engine's protective cage to shift, leading the propeller blades to strike the cage components. The force of the collision also broke the front landing gear mounting. The pilot was conscious immediately following the impact but succumbed to severe internal injuries two days later in a Lublin hospital.
At the time of the accident, the pilot was likely testing a newly purchased Dudek Driftair wing, which had been acquired in May 2022. The pilot had also replaced the manufacturer's standard lines with lines from a different model, the Snake 3. The flights were being conducted in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) without radio communication and had not been coordinated with the aerodrome management.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the technical condition of the aircraft, the pilot's credentials, and the operational circumstances. The investigation established that the pilot was a highly skilled member of the Polish Aero Club's National Team, holding valid medical and flight qualifications.
Technical inspections of the paramotor revealed that the engine, frame, and wing were in good condition, and no mechanical failure was identified as a cause for the separation of parts prior to the impact. The engine was found to have been running at the moment of impact. The investigation also noted that the pilot had modified the wing by installing lines from a different model, a practice the manufacturer permits only for highly experienced competition pilots under their own responsibility.
Findings
- The pilot was performing flights outside of official aerodrome operating hours without prior authorization from the airport manager.
- The flights were conducted without radio communication, increasing the risk to other potential users of the airfield.
- The pilot had replaced the factory-standard lines on the Dudek Driftair wing with lines from a Snake 3 model.
- There was no evidence of a mechanical failure or equipment malfunction occurring prior to the ground impact.