What happened
On 7 July 2007, at approximately 19:50 hrs, a Paramania Revolution 23 paramotor was involved in a fatal accident at Middle Barn Farm, Bexhill, Sussex. The pilot, an instructor for a local paramotor school, was conducting a private flight in light winds and good visibility.
Earlier in the day, the pilot had experienced difficulties during takeoff when a left riser became jammed in a maillon, causing an uncommanded turn. After successfully correcting this issue, the pilot performed several manoeuvres at an altitude of roughly 1,000 ft. Witnesses observed the pilot performing wingovers and a spiral manoeuvre. During one turn, the wing partially collapsed over about 40% of its span before re-inflating. Following this, the pilot attempted a right-hand wingover followed by a left-hand wingover. The latter transitioned into a left-hand spiral. While the initial turns of the spiral appeared standard, subsequent turns developed into a "SAT" manoeuvre, characterized by a horizontal axis of rotation between the wing and the harness.
During this high-speed rotation, the aircraft struck the ground. Although the final 30 ft of the descent were obscured by vegetation, the impact resulted in one fatality. The pilot was treated by paramedics at the scene and transported to a hospital, where he passed away two days later.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation focused on the mechanical integrity of the paramotor's structure. Investigators examined components from several other paramotors and discovered evidence of distortion and damage to the horizontal arms and various fittings. This damage suggested that these components had been subjected to loads approaching their failure limits. The investigation highlighted a lack of standardized design criteria for the strength of fittings that alter the loading geometry of the structure.
Findings
- The accident was caused by the development of a high-speed rotational manoeuvre that placed extreme stress on the aircraft.
- Evidence suggests that at least one in-flight component failure occurred within the metal structure of the paramotor.
- There is a significant safety concern regarding the structural integrity of paramotor arms and fittings, as many may not be strong enough to sustain the loads experienced during extreme manoeuvres.
- The lack of established design criteria and the variable nature of wing lift, pilot weight, and machine mass make it difficult to ensure these components are structurally safe.