What happened
On August 13, 2017, a pilot was conducting several local flights near Cap Gris-Nez, France. During the final flight of the day, the pilot engaged in a series of rapid, tight spiral dives. Witnesses, who were also paramotor pilots, observed the aircraft performing these maneuvers before it rapidly lost altitude. The aircraft subsequently collided with the ground, resulting in the death of the pilot. Witnesses noted that the engine was still running at the moment of impact.
The investigation
The BEA examined the aircraft, an ITV Billy type paramotor identified as 62BAY, and the flight conditions. Meteorological data indicated favorable flying conditions, with visibility exceeding 10 kilometers, clear skies, and a light north-northwest wind of approximately 10 knots.
The investigation included a technical inspection of the paramotor. The wing, lines, and risers showed no signs of damage or structural failure. The lines were properly attached to the wing, and the trim settings were set to a wide angle. The pilot, who held a paramotor license since 2013 and had approximately 350 flight hours, was experienced but was not performing this specific maneuver during previous flights of the day.
Findings
- The pilot likely intentionally entered a spiral dive but failed to arrest the descent before hitting the ground.
- The high rate of descent and the altitude at which the maneuver began left the pilot with very little time to recognize the proximity of the ground and execute recovery actions.
- The pilot may have experienced spiral instability, where the aircraft continues to accelerate and tighten the turn without pilot intervention, or physiological effects such as "blackout" (loss of peripheral vision due to high G-forces).
- There is a lack of formal training for spiral maneuvers within the French Federation of ULMs (FFPLUM), unlike paragliding organizations, which may lead pilots to attempt these high-risk maneuvers using self-taught methods from the internet.