What happened
On 1 September 2023, a paramotor with registration 26AKA took off from a private strip near the Ribérac-Tourette aerodrome for a local flight. The pilot had delayed the departure due to turbulent south-westerly winds. After an initial takeoff run, the pilot performed a low-altitude figure-of-eight maneuver, likely to avoid trees located at the edge of the airfield.
While flying at an altitude of approximately 40 to 50 meters, the wing suddenly twisted. The aircraft entered a series of rapid rotations, completing approximately six left-hand spins. The pilot was unable to recover the aircraft, which ultimately collided with a cultivated hill approximately 200 meters south of the end of runway 23. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the paramotor was damaged.
The investigation
The BEA investigation utilized data from the pilot's onboard GNSS computer, video footage from a GoPro camera mounted on the pilot's helmet, and statements from witnesses and a nearby microlight helicopter pilot.
The helmet camera footage revealed that the pilot was holding the left control handle and the throttle lever with his left hand, but his right hand was not holding the right control. During the sudden loss of control, centrifugal force prevented the pilot from repositioning his hand. The footage also showed that the lines on the right side of the wing wrapped around the left lines, creating a twist. The investigation also ruled out the possibility that turbulence from a nearby microlight helicopter contributed to the accident, as the helicopter had passed over the area several minutes prior to the paramotor's takeoff.
Findings
Several factors contributed to the fatal accident:
- The pilot was using a Spyder 26 wing, a high-performance model suitable for experienced pilots, and may have lacked sufficient experience operating this specific wing in turbulent air conditions.
- The pilot was not holding the right control at the moment the lines began to twist.
- The intense centrifugal force experienced during the initial deviation prevented the pilot from moving the risers apart to attempt a recovery or slow the rotation.