N820PP

On September 20, 2023, about 0910 mountain daylight time, a Powrachute LLC Airwolf 912ULS powered parachute, N820PP, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an incident at the Parkland Airport (7CO0), near Erie, Colorado. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Although the aircraft was substantially damaged and the pilot fatally injured, the event was not determined to have been an accident because the pilot likely did not intend to fly the aircraft at the time of the incident.

Security camera video footage showed that the aircraft was stationed near the airport’s fuel farm. The video footage showed the pilot fuel the aircraft and then start the engine. The pilot then attempted to enter the right side of the aircraft and inadvertently sat on the throttle control. The throttle control was then bent in the “full throttle” position. The pilot was never strapped into the seat with the four-point restraint system and the aircraft departed across the airport. The aircraft entered a grass field, impacted terrain, cartwheeled, and the pilot was then ejected. The aircraft came to rest upright, with a nose-high attitude, in the grass field. The pilot was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries several hours later.

There were no known witnesses to the accident sequence. An individual at the airport contacted first responders after observing the wreckage on the grass field.

The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, with substantial damage to the airframe tubing. Flight control and engine control continuity was confirmed for the aircraft. The bent throttle control was found in the “full throttle” position. The throttle control was found connected to the airframe, intact but bent. There were no signs of fluid leaks on the aircraft or at the accident site. The two four-point restraint systems were found in a stowed and secured (latched closed) position. The ignition key was found inserted, and it was found at the “on” position. The wing was found folded up and not in a deployed configuration. There were no mechanical issues noted with the airframe or the engine during the onsite examination.

The pilot’s flight helmet and headset were found inside of his pickup truck, which was parked next to the fuel farm. Additionally, the driver’s side door of the pickup truck was found open. The pilot’s flight log and the aircraft maintenance records were not available for review.

A private forensic pathologist performed the pilot’s autopsy for the Weld County Coroner’s Office. According to his autopsy report, the pilot’s cause of death was multiple blunt injuries and his manner of death was accident. The autopsy identified a small white metal medical device within the ventricular chamber; no leads were noted from the device. No other heart abnormalities were noted.

NMS Labs performed toxicological testing of postmortem blood of the pilot. Fentanyl was detected at 0.9 ng/mL.

Toxicology testing of postmortem specimens from the pilot conducted by the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute detected tramadol in blood at 360 ng/mL and in urine at 2119 ng/mL. N-desmethyltramadol was detected in blood and detected in urine at 322 ng/mL. O-desmethyltramadol was detected in blood at 107 ng/mL and in urine at 1516 ng/mL. Etomidate and albuterol were detected in blood and urine.

Tramadol is a prescription opioid pain medication and a federal Schedule IV-controlled substance. It is commonly prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain. Tramadol use may cause dizziness, drowsiness, and reduced alertness; such effects generally are more common during initial treatment or when higher-than-therapeutic doses are used.

Odesmethyltramadol is the main active metabolite of tramadol, and N-desmethyltramadol is an inactive metabolite of tramadol. Albuterol is a prescription medication commonly used to treat symptoms of reactive airway disease such as bronchospasm. Etomidate is a short-acting, non-barbiturate intravenous anesthetic agent used for the rapid induction of general anesthesia. Fentanyl is a prescription opioid pain medication and a federal Schedule II controlled substance. It is often administered in the emergency setting as an adjunct to other medications to achieve general anesthesia.

Powrachute LLC issued Airwolf 912ULS Safety Advisory (POW-SB-09-25-23-5) on September 25, 2023, which discusses the accident aircraft and states in part:

The Airwolf powered parachute has demonstrated the potential to accelerate at a dangerously high rate of speed on the ground under certain circumstances.

This document discusses safety guidance for pilots with ground operations, the starting procedure, throttle control, and taxi speed control.