What happened
On October 5, 2022, a powered paraglider flight near Legnica (EPLE) ended in a fatal accident. The pilot had taken off from a grassy airfield in a southern direction, following several other pilots who had already completed their flights. Approximately 30 minutes into the flight, while flying roughly 1.5 km from the takeoff site and heading into the wind, the pilot initiated a left turn.
During a tight turn with the wind, a section of the wing experienced sudden deformation. This caused the aircraft to accelerate its rotation, entering a left spiral dive. The pilot performed at least two additional rotations in this state before the powered paraglider struck the ground at approximately 18:15. The impact resulted in the death of the pilot.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the aircraft, which consisted of a Flytechnik Triame Solo trike, a Polini Thor 250 engine, and a Universal 31 wing manufactured by Dudek Paragliders. Investigators reviewed video footage from a witness and inspected the wreckage. The investigation confirmed that the engine was functioning correctly up until the moment of impact and that the pilot's medical and legal qualifications were valid. The inspection of the wing revealed that the trim settings were asymmetrical, likely used by the pilot to compensate for the engine's torque effect.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a piloting error involving the loss of control during a turn and an inability to recover from the spiral dive.
- The pilot's reaction to the spiral—increasing engine power instead of reducing it to idle—contributed to the transition from a spiral into a fatal diving position.
- Windy weather conditions influenced the wing's behavior during the turn.
- The pilot did not deploy the reserve parachute, which could have been an effective means of rescue given the available altitude and speed.
- The pilot lacked the practiced technique required to recover from a spiral dive.