N781SC

Substantial
Serious

SIX CHUTER WEST LLC LEGEND XLS/N: 3172

Accident Details

Date
Thursday, October 26, 2017
NTSB Number
GAA18CA029
Location
Mabton, WA
Event ID
20171026X00846
Coordinates
46.190555, -119.941947
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
1
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot’s failure to see and avoid transmission wires.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
SIX CHUTER WEST LLC
Serial Number
3172
Engine Type
4-cycle
Year Built
2016
Model / ICAO
LEGEND XLBPAT
Aircraft Type
Powered Parachute
No. of Engines
1
Seats
2
FAA Model
LEGEND XL

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
KINZIE JOEL A
Address
533 PHEND RD
City
PASCO
State / Zip Code
WA 99301-9643
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot of the powered parachute reported that, during a biennial flight review, they descended to about 30 ft. above the ground to fly an arc around a field. While over the field, the powered parachute dropped another 10 to 15 ft. and he added power to compensate before initiating a left turn. He added that, during the turn, he saw transmission wires that neither he nor the flight instructor noticed prior. He applied full power and attempted a turn to avoid the wires. Subsequently, the powered parachute struck the transmission wires and impacted terrain.

The powered parachute sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot sustained serious injuries.

The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the powered parachute that would have precluded normal operation.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA18CA029