What happened
On January 27, 1997, following a 20-minute local flight, the pilot of a paramotor (identified as 95-JE) was preparing to stow equipment at the Persan aerodrome. As part of the post-flight procedure, the pilot separated the wing from the engine assembly and attempted to start the 14 hp Réflex engine to drain residual fuel from the carburetor.
While attempting to start the engine using the manual pull-starter, the pilot held the upper part of the engine frame with his left hand. During the process, his left hand slipped, coming into direct contact with the rotating propeller. The impact resulted in an open fracture to the pilot's hand.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the physical actions taken during the engine startup and the pilot's equipment and experience. It was established that the pilot had removed his non-slip gloves immediately after landing, prior to the engine start attempt. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the pilot, who had only 10 total flight hours and 1 hour and 20 minutes on this specific type, was likely caught off guard by the engine vibrations that occurred immediately upon startup.