What happened
On February 21, 2016, a Paramania GTR 4 paramotor, identified as 64-YV, crashed near Louvie-Juzon, France, resulting in the death of the pilot and the destruction of the aircraft.
Shortly after takeoff from a nearby field, the pilot initiated a sharp right-hand turn at a very low altitude, likely intended to fly over spectators. During this maneuver, the pilot moved his legs to wave to onlookers. This tight turn caused the pilot and harness to oscillate heavily from side to缺乏 to side. In an attempt to stabilize the aircraft, the pilot shifted his weight abruptly forward on the harness. This sudden movement, combined with the existing forces of the turn, triggered a significant rotation of the pilot-harness-engine assembly. The engine's thrust was redirected laterally, causing the right side of the wing to collapse. The aircraft then entered a right-hand spin and struck the ground at an altitude of approximately 100 to 150 meters.
The investigation
The BEA examined the wreckage, including the wing, engine, and harness, finding no mechanical failures or malfunctions. Investigators also analyzed video footage from a witness's mobile phone, which captured the sequence of the maneuver and the pilot's movements. The investigation focused on the physics of the flight, specifically how the sudden longitudinal shift of the pilot's weight interacted with the rotating propeller.
Findings
- The pilot performed an unnecessary and aggressive maneuver at a low altitude to interact with people on the ground.
- The sudden forward shift of the pilot's weight caused gyroscopic precession in the propeller. Because the propeller rotates counter-clockwise (viewed from behind), the applied torque caused the engine assembly to yaw 90 degrees to the left.
- This redirection of thrust caused asymmetric loading on the wing, leading to a collapse of the right wing tip.
- The low altitude of the maneuver left the pilot with insufficient time to recover from the resulting spin.