# NTSB CEN13LA555: Buckeye Industries Dream Machine, N6122F, St. Joseph, MI, September 23, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 23, 2013, 18:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: St. Joseph, MI - Coordinates: 42.015834, -86.42778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0158&lon=-86.4278&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 3, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - South Bend FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 88119 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA555 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88119/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88119 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA555 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the powered-parachute during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=059001Z), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=059001Z), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=059001Z), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=059001Z), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=059001Z), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=059001Z), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=059001Z), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the accident occurred as he was attempting a northbound takeoff from a private grass airstrip. During the takeoff roll, the powered-parachute encountered a "mild" wind gust from the east that partially collapsed the right side of the parachute. The pilot corrected by making a slight left turn, but the powered-parachute became airborne with the right side of the parachute still underinflated. The powered-parachute descended back to the airstrip, bounced, and then yawed left after becoming airborne a second time. The pilot reported that he overcorrected for the yaw and that the fuselage cart swung to the right. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff while the powered-parachute was about 6 feet above the airstrip. The powered-parachute impacted the ground nose first before it rolled over. The pilot reported no preaccident malfunctions or failures with the powered-parachute that would have prevented normal operation. ## Factual narrative On September 23, 2013, at 1845 eastern daylight time, a Buckeye Industries model Dream Machine powered-parachute, N6122F, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff from a private airstrip near St. Joseph, Michigan. The sport pilot was not injured, but his passenger was seriously injured. The powered-parachute was registered to and operated by the pilot, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal, local-area flight that was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that the accident occurred as he was attempting a northbound takeoff from a private airstrip (2,350 feet by 40 feet, grass). The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll the powered-parachute encountered a "mild" wind gust from the east that partially collapsed the right side of the parachute. The pilot corrected by making a slight left turn, but the powered-parachute became airborne with the right side of the parachute still underinflated. The powered-parachute descended back to the airstrip, bounced, and then yawed left after becoming airborne a second time. The pilot reported that he overcorrected for the yaw and the fuselage cart swung to the right. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff while the powered-parachute was about 6 feet above the airstrip. The powered-parachute impacted terrain nose first before it rolled over. The pilot reported no preaccident malfunctions or failures with the powered-parachute that would have prevented normal operation. The steel tube cart was substantially damaged during the impact sequence and the passenger sustained a fracture of his left fibula. The nearest aviation weather reporting station was located at Southwest Michigan Regional Airport (BEH), Benton Harbor, Michigan, about 7 miles north of the accident site. At 1853, the BEH automated surface observing system reported: wind from 110 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 10 miles, sky clear, temperature 18 degrees Celsius, dew point 8 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.07 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6122F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6122F), registered now, S/N 3796997, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BUCKEYE INDUSTRIES DREAM MACHINE - Registry model: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE](https://openairdocs.org/model/buckeye-industries-dream-machine) (registry code 059001Z) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-series) (registry code 55564, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Powered parachute - Serial number: 3796997 - Year built: 1997 - Airframe hours: 250 - Engines: Rotax 503 52 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 8, 2013 - Departed: PVT, St. Joseph, MI - Destination: PVT, St. Joseph, MI - Airport: PVT, Private Airstrip, runway 36, 2,350 × 40 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; sport pilot; medical: sport pilot; last flight review October 8, 2011; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 250 total, 250 in this make and model, 250 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: BEH, 7 nm away ## 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 20130923017719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130923017719A), Sep 23, 2013: Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE, St Joseph, MI, Minor damage. On 09/23/2013 at 1845 EST, N6122F, a Buckeye Dream Machine powered chute crashed at a private strip in St Joseph, Michigan. Two souls onboard with passenger… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 18, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88119. 757 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 662 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401696&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports (item 2, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401697&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-Master.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.