# Accident 20180529006299A: Hughes Aero Corp PREDATOR "C", Copemish, MI, May 29, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 29, 2018, 20:56 local time
- Place: Copemish, MI
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.5092° N, 85.8406° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5092&lon=-85.8406&mi=10
- Aircraft: N369SL, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N369SL-2020-01-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Aero PREDATOR "C" (registry code 05902ZZ, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-aero-predator-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 582SER (registry code 55556, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES AERO CORP PREDATOR "C"
- Reported engine: ROTAX 582
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 55 total, 55 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN18LA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA206) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180529006299A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON MAY 29, 2018 AT 1956 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A HUGHES AERO CORP PREDATOR ?C? 2-PLACE POWERED PARACHUTE, N369SL, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY A SPORT PILOT, RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE WHEN IT IMPACTED A TREE ON TAKEOFF. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT THE PILOT?S RESIDENCE NEAR COPEMISH, MICHIGAN. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND MILD WINDS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91 WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN.  THE PILOT AND PASSENGER BOTH RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE LOCAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM A PASTURE AT THE PILOTS RESIDENCE.

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE PILOT WAS GIVING THE PASSENGER AN INTRODUCTORY FLIGHT IN HOPES OF SELLING THE AIRCRAFT TO THE PASSENGER. DURING THE TAKEOFF FROM THE 600-FOOT UN-MOWED GRASS STRIP, THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE BUT WOULD NOT CLIMB ABOVE 10 FEET. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A TREE APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET LEFT OF CENTER LINE AND 40 FEET FROM THE EDGE OF THE PASTURE AREA. FOLLOWING IMPACT THE PARACHUTE SETTLED INTO THE TREETOP. EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE CALLED AND RESPONDED. THE PILOT WAS AIR MEDEVACKED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WHILE THE PASSENGER WAS TRANSPORTED BY GROUND AMBULANCE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE COMPLETE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND UPRIGHT WITH ITS RIGHT SIDE AGAINST THE BASE OF A 25 FOOT TREE. MINOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT LANDING GEAR, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, AND STEERING CONTROL WERE NOTED. ENGINE AND PROPELLER WERE UNDAMAGED AND FUEL WAS NOTED IN THE TANK AND ALL FUEL LINES. ENGINE COMPRESSION WAS NOTED IN BOTH CYLINDERS BY PROPELLER PULL THROUGH. ALL CONTROL LINES APPEARED TO BE CONNECTED AND INTACT. SCRAPE MARKS WERE FOUND ON THE TREE TRUNK APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET FROM THE GROUND WITH A NUMBER OF SMALLER BRANCHES BROKEN ABOVE THAT POINT. NO AIRCRAFT RECORDS HAVE BEEN LOCATED AT THIS TIME. A 2015 AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH OF THE PILOT?S PROPERTY SHOWED A MOWED 600-FOOT RUNWAY WITH A NW-SE ORIENTATION. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT NO RUNWAY COULD BE DETECTED ON THE PROPERTY AS THE GRASS WAS 6-12 INCHES TALL AND APPEARED UNUSED BUT FOR THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.

WEATHER REPORT AT KTVC AIRPORT AT 2353 UTC WAS: WIND 300 DEGREES AT 3 KNOTS, VISIBILITY 10 STATUTE MILES, CLEAR, TEMP 26 DEW POINT 16 AND ALTIMETER 29.88.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN18LA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA206), May 29, 2018: Hughes Aero Predator "C" (N369SL), Copemish, MI, minor damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to take off with a passenger in high-density altitude conditions from a runway with tall grass present, which resulted in the powered-parachute's poor takeoff…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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