What happened
On 8 July 2007, at approximately 1950 hrs, a paramotor instructor was conducting flight manoeuvres near Middle Barn Farm, Bexhill, Sussex. The aircraft, a Paramania Revolution 23 powered by an H & E Paramotores R120 series engine, was being operated as part of a private flight involving a paramotor school.
After several minutes of normal flight at roughly 1,000 ft, the pilot attempted a series of wingovers and a "SAT" manoeuvre. During a turn, the wing experienced a partial collapse over about 40% of its span, though it subsequently re-inflated. Following this, the pilot attempted a left-hand wingover which transitioned into a left-hand spiral. While the initial turns appeared controlled, the fourth and subsequent turns escalated into an uncontrolled spiral.
Witnesses observed the engine note increase, suggesting the pilot applied full power in an attempt to recover. However, the aircraft descended rapidly. Although the final 30 ft of the descent was obscured by vegetation, it was evident that the aircraft struck the ground. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, succumbing to them two days later.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the wreckage and several other paramotor components. The inquiry established that at least one in-flight component failure had occurred within the metal structure of the paramotor.
Examination of various paramotor arms and fittings revealed evidence of distortion and damage. This damage indicated that these components had been subjected to loads approaching their failure stress levels. The investigation noted that the design and geometry of these fittings vary significantly between different harnesses, and there appeared to be no standardized design criteria to ensure their strength.
Findings
- The accident was caused by the structural failure of a component within the paramotor's metal frame.
- The failure occurred during high-load manoeuvres, specifically a spiral.
- There is a lack of standardized design criteria to determine the required strength for the arms and fittings used in these machines.
- The variable nature of harness/wing combinations and the varying mass of pilots means that existing fittings may not be sufficiently strong to sustain the loads experienced during extreme manoeuvres.