Pilot released brake toggle to reach phone without securing it. Toggle went through protective net and struck propeller at low altitude. Toggle passed through and got stuck but did not wrap on prop, avoiding potential fatal spiral.
Wrong control input
Maximum — exactly determined
Pilot freed brake toggle to reach for phone without securing it in the snap. The toggle went through the protective net and hit the propeller while at low altitude. The toggle did not wrap on the prop but went through the net again from the back side and got stuck. Pilot noted that if the toggle had caught on the propeller, it would have resulted in an uncontrollable spiral with impact in approximately 3 seconds, with no time to deploy reserve. Pilot discovered the rigid part of the brake toggle could freely move inside, tending to form a straight line instead of maintaining triangle shape.
Pilot error - released brake toggle without securing it in snap to reach for phone. Contributing factors: inadequate preflight briefing on importance of securing toggles, protective net allowing toggle to pass through, toggle design allowing rigid part to move freely and not maintain triangle shape.
Not deployed
Wrong input triggered incident
June 16, 2024
10:00:00
United States
San Martin, California
Footlaunch
BLACKBEE 125cc Kestrel V3
CORS-AIR 125cc
Velocity
Core 2
22
Age: 31, Weight: 150 lbs, Male, PPG 2 rated, 10-50 hours experience
5.6 m/s
Strong Wind (10-15 mph)
Midday flight, strong gusty winds with thermal activity and dust devils
Thermal Activity / Dust Devil
I free my toggle for seconds to reach my phone, did not put the toggle into the snap. the toggle went through the net and hit the propeller when I was at the perfect deadly height, luckily the toggle did not wrap on the prop, but went through the net again from the back side of the net and get stuck. I was very lucky, if the brake toggle cought by the propeller, I would end up with uncontrollable crazy spiral and hit the ground in 3 seconds. I wouldn't have time to throw reserve. I also found that the rigid part of the brake toggle can freely move inside, It always tends to be a stright line, instead of a triagle. I wasn't told the brake toggle has to be snapped, I thought gears are well designed and it is very unlikly to happen. Never free the toggle. Net is very important, check it often. Make the rigid part of the toggle not moving, maintain triagle shape. Try not to free hands if it is not high enough.