Incident Details

During British Open Paramotor Championships 2024, pilot was on competition task flying at 1,600ft on full speed bar with hands off controls (using tip steering). At 10:40, he experienced an asymmetric collapse on the left side. The collapse caused aggressive rotation to the right. Pilot fell into the wing and it rotated approximately 3 times, twisting the risers behind his head. The wing partially reinflated and was being chewed into the propeller. Pilot was in freefall at 16 m/s, losing 500ft quickly. He deployed reserve with head pinned down by twisted risers. Reserve started opening around 600ft and was fully open by 500ft. Pilot drifted under reserve toward a house and power lines but landed in crop field approximately 2-4 meters from fence and power lines. Engine continued running during incident, contributing to wing damage. Pilot walked away without injuries.

Pilot was flying in shear layer where two air masses were mixing - 10 km/h northwesterly wind meeting incoming sea breeze. Located 3km inland from coast near Dover. Mixing air masses combined with rising thermic air and terrain height differences created turbulent washing machine conditions. Pilot was on full speed bar, full trim, with left tip steering engaged (constant left brake input for engine torque compensation). Multiple factors aligned: thermal sink, mixing air masses, speed bar, tip steer engaged, and flying over high terrain thermal trigger (town). Swiss cheese model alignment of factors.

5 years flying experience, competition pilot, approximately 330 hours total time

2.78 m/s

10 km/h northwesterly, sea breeze mixing

Cumulous clouds forming, thermic conditions, mixing air masses (northwesterly wind meeting sea breeze), cloud base development

Thermally active, cumulous clouds forming over high terrain, rough thermic air, mixing with sea breeze creating shear layer

Video title: Fully Accelerated Paramotor Collapse Analysis (Reserve Throw) Uploader: Daniel Jones Date: July 22, 2024 (incident occurred July 21, 2024 based on video content) Pilot's own analysis: - Flying during British Open Paramotor Championships 2024 - Took asymmetric collapse while fully accelerated with hands off controls - Flying at 1,600ft when collapse occurred - Had been flying for 2 hours already, completed two tasks - Was collecting additional turn points on way back to airfield - Had 1 hour of spare time in 3-hour/5-hour window (7am-12pm) - Collapse occurred at 10:40 just outside Dover - Pilot looked at left wing tip twice before collapse (no memory of this) - Remembers looking at ground during dive, then grabbing reserve - Risers twisted behind head, head pinned down - Wing chewed into engine due to riser twisting - Hand went into wing on second rotation - Managed to grab reserve handle first time and pulled - Reserve opened, was drifting toward house - Local people alerted by red canopy, arrived within minutes - Had map board over knees making it difficult to get up - Walked away without a scratch Equipment damage: - Glider: 18 panels need replacing/patching, 10 lines need replacing (~£1,200) - Propeller: damaged (~£300) - Cage: top left quarter damaged, all 4 spars damaged, main chassis bent - Total damage: ~£2,000 - Engine: fine, no bearing damage Analysis: - Flying in shear layer where two air masses mixing - 10 km/h northwesterly wind - Sea breeze started pulling in near Dover (south coast) - 3km inland from coast at collapse - Mixing air masses + rising thermic air + terrain height difference = turbulent air - First visual indicator: cumulous clouds forming over high terrain - Was flying just below cloud base - Multiple warnings ignored: rough air over town, still on speed bar - Brakes fully parked (no chance of correction input) - Manual states can't use main brakes when fully trimmed out - Had left wing tip steering toggle constantly engaged (for engine torque) - Swiss cheese model: thermal sink, mixing air, speed bar, tip steer engaged - Fell at 16 m/s - Lost 500ft initially (from 1,600ft to 1,088ft) - Reserve started opening around 600ft, fully open by 500ft - Total descent of 1,100ft from initial collapse - Engine still running (should have killed it) - Landed 2-4 meters from fence with power lines Pilot's takeaways: - Flying at sensible height was ultimate saving grace - Strongly recommends reserve parachute - Recommends annual reserve repack (his was 4-5 years old, never repacked) - Recommends SIV training - Practice reserve handle location regularly - Never change more than one thing at a time on equipment - Had emotional response when flying again next day