# NTSB CEN16LA170: Buckeye Industries Dream Machine 582, N9447T, Fortville, IN, April 29, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 29, 2016, 16:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Fortville, IN - Coordinates: 39.916667, -85.847778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9167&lon=-85.8478&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 12, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Indianapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 93096 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93096/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93096 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA170 ## Probable cause The collapse of the powered parachute's canopy for a reason that could not be determined, because postaccident examination revealed no anomalies with the parachute. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE 582, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05902Z0), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE 582, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05902Z0), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE 582, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05902Z0), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The sport pilot, who had a flight instructor rating, reported that the accident flight was a test flight following installation of a different canopy on the powered parachute. He reported that he took off from the runway and climbed to about 100 ft above ground level. After making a gentle turn into a light wind, the parachute collapsed. The powered parachute fell to the ground and landed flat, breaking the right landing gear axle. The pilot suffered serious injuries as a result of the fall. The pilot speculated that a combination of turbulence and the effect of the turn could have unloaded the parachute, allowing it to collapse, but he could not be sure. He added that a higher altitude may have allowed the parachute to re-deploy. The pilot reported that the parachute passed an inspection by the manufacturer after the accident. ## Factual narrative On April 29, 2016, about 1640 eastern daylight time, a Buckeye Industries Dream Machine 582 powered parachute, N9447T, was damaged when it struck the ground near Fortville, Indiana. The pilot received serious injuries. The aircraft was registered to and operated by an individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight was reported to be a flight test following maintenance. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The local flight originated from Whybrew Field Airport (08IN), Fortville, Indiana, shortly before the accident. The pilot reported that the accident flight was a test flight following installation of a different canopy on the powered parachute. He reported that he took off from runway 18 and climbed out to about 100 ft agl. He stated that he made a gentle turn into a light wind and the parachute collapsed. The powered parachute fell to the ground and landed flat, breaking the right landing gear axle. The pilot suffered serious injuries as a result of the fall. The pilot speculated that a combination of turbulence and the effect of the turn could have unloaded the parachute, allowing it to collapse, but he could not be sure. He added that a higher altitude may have allowed the parachute to re-deploy. The pilot reported that the parachute passed an inspection by the manufacturer after the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9447T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9447T-2018-06-26), registration cancelled 2018-06-26, S/N 3547, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BUCKEYE INDUSTRIES INC DREAM MACHINE 582 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE 582](https://openairdocs.org/model/buckeye-industries-dream-machine-582) (registry code 05902Z0) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Ultralight - Serial number: 3547 - Year built: 1996 - Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: 08IN, Fortville, IN - Destination: 08IN, Fortville, IN - Airport: 08IN, Whybrew Field Airport, runway 36, 1,320 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: serious; flight instructor, sport pilot; medical: sport pilot; seat: single; flight hours: 1,035 total, 770 in this make and model, 1,010 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: IND, 23 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 20160429003159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160429003159A), Apr 29, 2016: Buckeye Industries Inc DREAM MACHINE 582, Fortville, IN, Substantial damage. On April 29, 2016, at 1631 eastern standard time (EST) (2031Z), a dream machine 582 powered parachute, N9447T, departed controlled flight while on approach to… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 13, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93096. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445345&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.