Incident Details

Pilot had been flying for 35 minutes taking pictures at low level during a large fly-in. Trimmers were set fast on a high performance non-reflex glider, making it more susceptible to front tuck deflations. Air was full of wakes from other flyers. While cruising along the beach at about 15 feet in smooth air with minimal brake pressure, pilot took a 40% collapse on the right side. Wing started sliding right and turning. Left brake input stopped the turn and wing was recovering, but at only 15 feet altitude there wasn't enough height. Pilot touched down hard enough to bump the cage on ground, causing prop to hit gas tank and destroy both components. Pilot maintained power setting throughout to preserve control. Low RPM meant minimal fuel spray despite breached tank.

Wake turbulence from other aircraft caused asymmetric collapse. Contributing factors: low altitude flight (15 feet), fast trim setting on high performance non-reflex wing, brakes-up flying position, and smooth air conditions that allowed wake turbulence to linger longer.

Age: 47, Weight: 150 lbs

Return to the incident list: Incident List Collapse at 15 feet PPG Type: Type of Injury: Pilot Details Age: 47 Weight: 150 Gender: Highest rating held at the time of the incident: Pilot experience level: Gear Details Wing Brand: Model: non-reflex, high performance Size: Paramotor Frame: n/r with Incident Details January 25, 2009 Location of the incident: , Type of Incident: I’d been flying around for 35 minutes taking pictures at low level during a large fly-in. Trimms were fast, leaving me more susceptible to front tuck wing deflations. The air was full of wakes from other flyers and I flew through many of them, frequently requiring brake input.After the last few shots, I was now cruising along the beach at about 15 feet. It was perfectly smooth. I had no or almost no brake pressure when I took a 40% collapse on the right side. It started sliding to the right and turning. Left brake input stopped the turn and the wing was recovering as my descent slowed. But not quick enough. Another 10 feet of altitude would have been enough but I touched down just hard enough to bump the cage on the ground. The prop hit the gas tank, destroying both the prop and gas tank.I did not change the power setting throughout in an instinctive effort to maintain the tenuous control scenario since it continued tracking straight. My thought was “this is essentially under control and I don’t want to make it worse.” In hindsight, adding power may have prevented ground contact. Damage was limited to the tank and prop but any breach of a gas tank like always leaves the possibility of a conflagration. In this case, low rpm meant that there was minimal fuel spray.Lessons learned/reinforced: 1) Flying low proves itself yet again to be where the risk is. 2) The smoother the air, the longer wake turbulence lingers. 3) Flying trimmed fast in a high performance non-reflex glider increases the chance for collapse, especially with brakes up. Flight Window: Wind Speed: Type: Phase of Flight: Type of Injury: Collateral Damage: Analysis of the incident (additional input by the incident investigation team): Photos (if available): Video (if available): Other Files (if available): Return to the incident list: Incident List