What happened
On 18 September 2019, a Hummerchute powered parachute, registration G-CJTI, was involved in an accident during a private flight near Freeby, Leicestershire. The aircraft, which was undergoing a flight check following a recent annual inspection, was being operated by a pilot who had not flown for twelve months.
During the takeoff roll, the pilot applied full throttle after confirming the canopy appeared to be overhead. However, the aircraft took longer to lift off than expected and began to roll sharply to the left as it left the ground. This maneuver caused the trike to collide with bushes at the edge of the field. The impact caused damage to the metal frame of the aircraft. The pilot sustained minor injuries, including broken ribs and a broken sternum, while the passenger suffered serious injuries, including ten broken ribs.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the circumstances of the flight and the mechanical state of the aircraft. A witness, who had performed a check flight on the aircraft shortly before the accident, observed the takeoff and noted that the left side of the canopy had failed to inflate correctly. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flying history, noting that while the pilot held a National Private Pilot’s Licence, they had no flying experience in the preceding 90 days.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the failure of the parachute canopy to inflate symmetrically during the takeoff roll.
- The pilot's lack of recent flying experience and overall experience likely contributed to the failure to notice the asymmetric inflation during the takeoff roll, an error that might otherwise have been corrected by aborting the takeoff.