Paramotor Pilot Fatally Injured Following Loss of Control in Yunlin

Casualties unknown • Approximately 21 nm North of RCKU, TW

A highly experienced paramotor pilot died after his aircraft entered uncontrollable oscillations and crashed into a field during an unauthorized flight in Yunlin, Taiwan.

What happened

On September 14, 2018, at approximately 17:20, a paramotor with registration PM1052 took off from a baseball field near the Xiluo Bridge in Yunlin County. The aircraft, an APCO LIFT M, was operated by a pilot with approximately 20 years of experience.

Shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 30 to 50 feet, the aircraft began experiencing severe side-to-side oscillations. Witnesses observed the oscillations increasing in amplitude approximately six to seven times. Despite the pilot's apparent attempts to regain control, the aircraft became unstable, drifted to the left, and plummeted into a nearby agricultural field. The pilot was transported to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries.

The investigation

The investigation examined the wreckage of the APCO LIFT M and the engine, a CORS-AIR M25Y. Investigators found that the propeller blades had sustained delamination, indicating the engine was still producing power at the moment of impact. The engine mounts showed some damage, but the throttle control cables and fuel system remained functional.

While the pilot's personal parachute was found intact at a local police station, investigators determined it was not the canopy used in the accident. Evidence suggested the pilot had borrowed a different canopy for the flight. Furthermore, while the flight occurred within a permitted airspace (the Zhuoshui River ultralight airspace), the takeoff location was an unauthorized field, and the timing of the flight was not permitted under local regulations.

Findings

  • The pilot was using a borrowed canopy that likely possessed different flight characteristics than his usual equipment.
  • The aircraft experienced side-to-side swing oscillations, which were exacerbated by improper pilot input while attempting to correct for wind-induced movement.
  • The pilot's lack of familiarity with the specific handling and roll stability of the borrowed canopy prevented effective recovery from the oscillations.
  • The flight was conducted from an unauthorized takeoff site and outside of permitted flight hours.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by the pilot's inability to manage increasing side-to-side oscillations, likely due to a lack of familiarity with the flight characteristics of a borrowed canopy, leading to a loss of control.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2018-09-14 Ultra Light/PM1052 accident near Approximately 21 nm North of RCKU, TW?

A highly experienced paramotor pilot died after his aircraft entered uncontrollable oscillations and crashed into a field during an unauthorized flight in Yunlin, Taiwan.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2018-09-14 involved a Ultra Light/PM1052, at Approximately 21 nm North of RCKU, TW.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by the pilot's inability to manage increasing side-to-side oscillations, likely due to a lack of familiarity with the flight characteristics of a borrowed canopy, leading to a loss of control.

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