What happened
On September 12, 2023, at approximately 16:30 UTC, a PAV 2 powered paraglider, registration OK-IGB 45, crashed at the LKMIST airfield. The pilot had taken off from runway 16, utilizing approximately half of the available runway. After climbing to an altitude of roughly 25 meters, the aircraft suddenly entered a sharp right-hand spiral. The aircraft performed a 180-degree turn before impacting the ground. The impact caused extensive damage to the aircraft, and despite immediate medical intervention at the scene, the pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation examined the aircraft's technical condition, the pilot's qualifications, and video evidence of the flight. Investigators analyzed the wreckage and performed a mechanoscopic examination of the damaged lines. The investigation established that the aircraft had not undergone a technical inspection since early 2017 and was being operated with a takeoff weight that exceeded the maximum allowable limit by 42.5 kg (approximately 29%). Furthermore, the pilot held a valid ultralight pilot license but was not qualified to fly powered paragliders and lacked the necessary medical certification for this specific aircraft type.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the severing of control and structural lines caused by a component from the engine's exhaust system.
- An unsecured silencer component (muffler) became detached from the exhaust system, struck the propeller, and was thrown into the paraglider's canopy.
- This impact severed the left control line, the left outer 'D' structural line, and the middle 'A' structural line, rendering the paraglider practically uncontrollable.
- The aircraft was significantly overweight, which altered its flight characteristics and made it more susceptible to instability.
- The pilot failed to react adequately to the structural deformation of the canopy, maintaining heavy braking input on the controls until the moment of impact.
- The aircraft had been operated without recent technical inspections and with unapproved modifications to the landing gear and engine setup.