# NTSB CHI08LA297: Powrachute Pegasus, N7084L, New London, WI, September 20, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 20, 2008, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: New London, WI - Coordinates: 44.306945, -88.77111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3069&lon=-88.7711&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 69263 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08LA297 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69263/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08LA297 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during landing due to failure of the nose wheel support as a result of an inadequate weld. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail gear strut/axle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Powrachute PEGASUS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/cases.md?model=05901JZ), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Powrachute PEGASUS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05901JZ), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Powrachute PEGASUS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05901JZ), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Powrachute PEGASUS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05901JZ), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot and flight instructor of the powered parachute had accomplished approximately 10 touch-and-goes prior to the accident, and "everything went perfectly." However, when the aircraft touched down on the final landing the nose wheel support failed causing the aircraft to ground loop. During the accident sequence the steering bar struck the student pilot in the chest. A postaccident examination revealed that the nose wheel front fork support had failed at a welded joint immediately forward of the airframe attachment bolt. Visual examination of the weld indicated a lack of penetration at the joint. In addition, the weld material did not appear to be of a uniform thickness. The manufacturer subsequently issued a service bulletin advising owners of two failures of the welded joint on the front fork support. The manufacturer recommended that supports be replaced with a Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welded support. The original support may have been Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welded without proper penetration, according to the bulletin. ## Factual narrative On September 20, 2008, about 0930 central daylight time, an experimental Powrachute Pegasus powered-parachute, N7084L, piloted by a flight instructor and student pilot, sustained minor damage when the nose landing gear collapsed during landing at Mark's Park and Airfield (3WN4) near New London, Wisconsin. The student pilot was seriously injured during the event. The flight instructor was not injured. The dual instructional flight was being conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight took off about 0830. The pilot's were practicing touch-and-goes at time of the accident. The student pilot reported that he had observed 5 or 6 touch-and-goes from the rear seat, as the flight instructor flew from the front seat. He controlled the throttle during this initial portion of the flight. He and his instructor then switched positions, with the student pilot flying from the front seat and the instructor observing from the rear seat. He completed another 5 or 6 touch-and-goes as the flying pilot and "everything went perfect." However, when he touched down on the final landing, the nose wheel support failed causing the aircraft to ground loop. During the accident sequence, the steering bar struck him in the chest. He was hospitalized for treatment of the serious injuries sustained in the accident. A post accident examination revealed that the nose wheel front fork support had failed at a welded joint immediately forward of the airframe attachment bolt. Visual examination of the weld indicated a lack of penetration at the joint. In addition, the weld material did not appear to be of a uniform thickness. Subsequent to the accident, the manufacturer issued a service bulletin advising owners of two failures of the welded joint on the front fork support. The manufacturer recommended that supports be replaced with a Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welded support. The original support may have been Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welded without proper penetration, according to the bulletin. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7084L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7084L), registered now, S/N A044PEG (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: POWRACHUTE CORP PEGASUS - Registry model: [Powrachute PEGASUS](https://openairdocs.org/model/powrachute-pegasus) (registry code 0590008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582dcdi) (registry code 55562, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Powered parachute - Serial number: A-044-PEG - Engines: ROTAX 582DCDI 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: 3WN4, New London, WI - Destination: 3WN4, New London, WI - Airport: 3WN4, Mark's Park and Airfield, runway 27, 1,400 × 250 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 42; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; medical: sport pilot; last flight review November 15, 2006; seat: rear; flight hours: 350 total, 20 in this make and model, 330 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days - Student pilot; age 31; injuries: serious; student; medical: sport pilot; seat: front; flight hours: 6 total, 2 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: PCZ, 11 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 20080920850399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080920850399A), Sep 20, 2008: Pwrcht PEGASUS, New London, WI, Minor damage. (-23) On 09/20/2008 at approximately 0930 local, an instructor and student pilot were practicing touch and go's when, on one of the landings, the nose gear… 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.