# NTSB CEN10LA492: Infinity Infinity, N208FA, Little Rock, AR, August 12, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 11, 2010, 20:00 local (Aug 12, 2010, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Little Rock, AR - Coordinates: 34.803611, -92.373886 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8036&lon=-92.3739&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Uncontrolled descent: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report April 7, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77043 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA492 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77043/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77043 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA492 ## Probable cause The failure of the control lanyard for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022700): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Infinity INFINITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022700/cases.md?model=05902RD), [All aircraft, 65 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022700/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Infinity INFINITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05902RD), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Infinity INFINITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=05902RD), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Infinity INFINITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=05902RD), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Infinity INFINITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05902RD), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis While the powered parachute was in a right descending spiral from 800 feet to 200 feet, the pilot and his passenger felt a violent shudder. The pilot could not visually detect anything unusual with the parachute and attempted to return to level flight by reducing engine power and adding opposite control input. Despite his efforts, the aircraft did not respond; it continued in a steep descending turn until it impacted the water. A postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed that the parachute experienced a seam failure at the 5th and 6th cell seam. In addition, a broken control lanyard was found. The reason for the control lanyard’s failure was not determined. ## Factual narrative On August 11, 2010, about 2000 central daylight time, an Infinity powered parachute, N208FA, was substantially damaged during an impact with water following a loss of control while maneuvering near Little Rock, Arkansas. The pilot and passenger received serious injuries. The powered parachute was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. The local flight originated from the North Little Rock Airport (ORK), around 1915. According to the pilot, while in a right descending spiral from 800 feet to 200 feet, he and his passenger felt a “violent shudder.” After a quick look at the chute and not seeing anything unusual the pilot attempted to return to level flight by reducing engine power and by adding opposite control input; however, there was no response. The powered parachute continued in a steep descending turn until it impacted the water. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who inspected the powered parachute following the accident reported that it appeared as if the parachute experienced a seam failure at the 5th and 6th cell seam. The inspector also reported finding a broken control lanyard. The reason for the control lanyard’s failure was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N208FA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N208FA-2018-01-16), registration cancelled 2018-01-16, S/N IPP207, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: INFINITY INFINITY - Registry model: [Infinity INFINITY](https://openairdocs.org/model/infinity-infinity) (registry code 0590378) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Powered parachute - Serial number: IPP207 - Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wooding Joshua S - Registered owner: Wooding Joshua S - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: ORK, N Little Rock, AR - Destination: ORK, N Little Rock, AR - Airport: None, None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: serious; flight instructor, sport pilot, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: front; flight hours: 410 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20100811043699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100811043699A), Aug 11, 2010: Infinity INFINITY, Little Rock, AR, Destroyed. On August 11, 2010 at 2000 CST, an Infinity powered parachute aircraft , N208FA, registered to and being operated by Mr. Joshua s. wooding, a certificated… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77043. 116 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339285&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.