What happened
On 14 April 2018, a Hummerchode powered parachute, registration G-CKTA, was performing its maiden flight at Luffenham Aerodrome in Rutland. The aircraft, which featured a Rotax 582 engine, was being operated for private purposes with one pilot and one passenger on board.
During the takeoff roll, the pilot conducted an extended taxi to allow the canopy to inflate and observe the rigging from the cockpit. Although the pilot noted the canopy oscillating side-to-side, he attributed this to a thermal and continued the takeoff. However, as soon as the aircraft became airborne, the canopy lost forward momentum while the trike continued ahead. This caused the aircraft to pitch steeply upward before falling backward onto the ground. The impact resulted in minor injuries to both occupants and caused damage to the propeller and the rear landing gear axle.
The investigation
Investigators examined the parachute rigging and compared the canopy of G-CKTA to a known functional reference canopy. The inspection revealed that a specific set of lines, identified as the D lines, were of a similar length to the C lines. On the reference canopy, these two groups of lines were of different lengths. This discrepancy confirmed that the parachute had been manufactured incorrectly.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was incorrectly manufactured parachute lines, specifically where the D lines were too short.
- This manufacturing error caused the canopy to sit behind the trike rather than directly above it, creating a significant braking effect.
- This imbalance disrupted the longitudinal trim of the aircraft, leading to the loss of control.
- The pilot also noted that the aircraft's Permit to Fly had expired shortly before the flight and that the valid permit would have restricted the operation to a solo flight.