# NTSB CEN21LA387: Six Chuter Skye Ryder, Harrison, MI, August 11, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 10, 2021, 20:15 local (Aug 11, 2021, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Harrison, MI · Impact with trees
- Coordinates: 44.05349, -84.76978 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0535&lon=-84.7698&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103771
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA387
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103771/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103771
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA387

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of control while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in impact with terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [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.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The uncertificated pilot reported to local police that while he maneuvered the 2-seat powered parachute about 200 ft above ground level, a descent began because “he couldn’t get lift out of it”. The powered parachute subsequently impacted terrain. The vehicle’s fuselage sustained substantial damage. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the powered parachute that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not respond to NTSB requests for further information concerning the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Six Chuter Skye Ryder
- Category: Powered parachute
- Serial number: 98-2040-SR5
- Year built: 1998
- Engines: Rotax 582 64 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: None
- Departed: n/a, Harrison, MI
- Destination: n/a, Harrison, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: minor; flight hours: 10 total, 10 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observed at: KHTL, 20 nm away
- METAR: KHTL 110053Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM BKN040 24/21 A2989

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103771. 1.0 MB in all.

- Excerpt of police report (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 796 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12896484&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Police%20report%20-%20excerpt_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Correspondence with pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12911520&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Pilot%20Correspondence-Rel.pdf
- Correspondence with FAA (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12911551&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20FAA%20Correspondence-Rel.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.

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