What happened
On June 3, 2019, at approximately 19:00 UTC, a powered paraglider (PPG) with landing gear took off from Mesa - Macinhata do Vouga, Portugal. The flight was a planned test operation intended to evaluate a newly acquired wing while flying from the rear seat position. During the flight, the aircraft encountered atmospheric instability, which caused the pilot to lose control of the longitudinal axis. The aircraft subsequently developed a significant vertical descent, ultimately crashing into a fence of a residence in the village of Macinhata do Vouga.
The impact resulted in serious injuries to the passenger, who also participated in the activity, specifically involving the lower limbs. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The aircraft, a Condor XL Paratrike powered by a Rotax 582 engine, sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation established that the aircraft was not certified or authorized under current regulations. Furthermore, the pilot was operating under a sports license that, under existing rules, did not grant the privileges required to conduct this specific flight. The investigation also found that the aircraft's components did not meet the design approval requirements for single or serial manufacturing as mandated by the National Civil Aviation Authority. Additionally, the equipment failed to demonstrate compliance with international ASTM standards for the assembly and testing of kit-built and powered parachute aircraft.
Findings
- The aircraft was not legally certified or authorized for operation.
- The pilot lacked the appropriate regulatory privileges to conduct the flight.
- The aircraft and its constituent materials did not comply with established manufacturing or design approval standards.
- The equipment failed to meet recognized international safety standards, specifically ASTM F2563-16 and ASTM F2442-05.
- The activity is characterized by a lack of effective oversight, with equipment being traded and operated without adequate regulatory criteria.
- Risk analysis practices for this type of operation were found to be ineffective, as evidenced by a history of similar accidents in the region.