Pilot with less than 10 hours experience had motor power loss due to cold temperature and improper tuning after time change. Experienced rotor turbulence from trees, had to circle multiple times at low altitude while trying to find safe landing spot, flew over horses, landed 0.5 miles from intended LZ. No injuries.
Hardware failure
Maximum — exactly determined
Pilot flew on a new LZ one day after time change with adjusted launch time. Once airborne, experienced significant rotor turbulence from pockets of trees between open fields. First flight in several weeks due to weather. Temperature had dropped and motor tune was off, resulting in lack of power. Had to circle multiple times at lower altitude trying various throttle positions and flight paths to find suitable landing pattern. During the process flew over horse fields. Eventually landed about 0.5 miles away from intended LZ. After landing, met an unhappy horse owner who requested pilot stay away from their horses. Pilot apologized and explained the situation. Pilot decided not to return to this LZ and planned to retune motor for colder weather.
Primary cause was motor power loss due to improper tuning for cold temperature conditions. Contributing factors included rotor turbulence from trees, pilot's low experience level (less than 10 hours), and unfamiliarity with the new landing zone after daylight saving time change.
Not deployed
field
Mostly correct inputs while reacting
November 5, 2023
17:15:00
United States
LaGrange, Kentucky
Footlaunch
Parajet Maverick
Atom 80
Ozone
Mojo PWR2
26
39 years old, 180 lbs, male, PPG 2 rated, less than 10 hours experience
3.1 m/s
Moderate, light and variable, 5-9 mph
Evening flight, cold temperature (first cold day after temperature drop), light and variable winds 5-9 mph
Not mentioned
Wind trouble in landing with motor not running at full power due to temp change and tuning issues. Flew over horses while trying to land safely PPG Type: Foot Launch – Single Occupant Type of Injury: No Injury Pilot Details: Age: 39 Weight: 180 Gender: Male Highest rating held at the time of the incident: Intermediate – PPG 2 Pilot experience level: Less than 10 hours Gear Details: Wing Brand: Ozone Model: Mojo PWR2 Size: 26 Paramotor Frame: Parajet Maverick Atom 80 Incident Details: November 5, 2023 5:15 PM Location of the incident: Largrange, Kentucky Type of Incident: Hard Landing Incident near 5315 Smith Haven Ln. La Grange, KY 40031 Had a newer LZ one a day after the time change with a new launch time. Once in the air, I experienced a lot of rotor off the pockets of trees between the open fields. It was the first time I have flown in a few weeks due to weather and the temp dropped. The tune on the motor ended up being off and i had a lack of power. I had to circle multiple times at a lower altitude as i tried numerous throttle positions and paths trying to catch the right pattern to land. In the process I flew over a few horse fields. I was able to land in a spot about .5 mile away from my LZ but once on the ground, I met an un happy horse owner who told me to stay away from their horses. I apologized and said it was not on intent and not something that is normal and that I had to find the right place to land safely quickly as possible. I will not be returning to this LZ and I will retune my motor in the coming days to the colder weather. Flight Window: Evening Wind Speed: Moderate Wind (5-9 mph) Type: Light and Variable Phase of Flight: Landing Type of Injury: No Injury Collateral Damage: None