Pilot caught in progressively worsening rain at 500 feet AGL, decided to land out. Made critical error of pulling trims to slow down at 150 feet which caused parachutal stall. Wing pitched backwards, pilot impacted heavily resulting in torn rotator cuff.
Wrong control input
Maximum — exactly determined
Pilot was flying at approximately 500 feet AGL heading for the coast when it started to rain, initially just a drizzle but progressively worsening. Turned around to return to take-off field 3 miles away. After 1.5 miles, rain increased significantly and pilot decided to land out. Overflew power lines, a farm, and crop fields. Rain became much worse as pilot dropped to 150 feet AGL after selecting landing spot next to a road. Pilot then pulled trims down to slow for landing. As soon as trims were pulled down, wing lost all forward speed and became parachutal, pitching backwards behind pilot for the last 30-40 feet. First point of impact was bottom right rear of frame, which rolled pilot violently to the right on ground contact.
Parachutal stall induced by pulling trims to slow position while flying in heavy rain at low altitude. Rain water on wing surface combined with reduced airspeed from trimming slower caused wing to enter parachutal stall configuration.
Not deployed
Wrong input triggered incident
Torn rotator cuff in right shoulder. Limited range of movement persisted for at least 2.5 years post-incident, though sufficient recovery achieved to return to flying.
December 13, 2017
Footlaunch
Flymecc Carbon 1.1s
Ozone
Viper 3
24
150 m
Age: 61, Weight: 198 lbs, Gender: Male
Closed
Rain conditions - started as drizzle, progressively worsened to heavy rain during flight
I was flying at approx' 500 feet agl heading for the coast, when it started to rain ... just a drizzle at first, but became progressively worse ... So I turned around to return to my take-off field (now 3 miles away). After 1.5 miles, the rain had increased to a point that I decided to 'land-out'. I overflew some power lines, then a farm, and some fields with crops. The rain had now become MUCH worse, and I dropped down to 150 feet agl having selected a suitable landing spot next to a road. At this point, my BIG MISTAKE was to trim slower to land ... as soon as I had pulled the trims down, my wing lost all forward speed and became parachutal ... pitching backwards behind me for the last 30-40 feet. The first point of impact was the bottom right rear of the frame, which then rolled me violently to the right as I hit the ground. My main injury was a torn rotator cuff in my right shoulder. I still do not have a full range of movement nearly 2.5 years later ... but I have sufficient to fly again :-)