Summary
On September 15, 2010, a Powrachute LLC AIRWOLF 912 (N377JA) was involved in an accident near Pleasant Garden, NC. The accident resulted in 1 serious injury, with 1 person uninjured out of 2 aboard.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's loss of directional control on takeoff during an encounter with a wind gust.
The pilot of the powered parachute stated that he set up a wind sock in a pasture located in hilly terrain lined by trees prior to the flight. Before beginning his takeoff, the wind sock indicated the winds were calm. However, during the takeoff, the powered parachute encountered a gust of wind, was blown to the left, and collided with some bushes. The vertical front support tube received structural damage. The nearest weather reporting facility is located 14 miles northwest of the accident site and was reporting no wind gusts at the time of the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site confirmed the pilot's statement of gusty wind conditions. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the powered parachute.
This accident is documented in NTSB report ERA10CA480. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N377JA.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's loss of directional control on takeoff during an encounter with a wind gust.
Aircraft Information
Analysis
The pilot of the powered parachute stated that he set up a wind sock in a pasture located in hilly terrain lined by trees prior to the flight. Before beginning his takeoff, the wind sock indicated the winds were calm. However, during the takeoff, the powered parachute encountered a gust of wind, was blown to the left, and collided with some bushes. The vertical front support tube received structural damage. The nearest weather reporting facility is located 14 miles northwest of the accident site and was reporting no wind gusts at the time of the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site confirmed the pilot's statement of gusty wind conditions. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the powered parachute.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA10CA480