# NTSB ERA10CA480: Powrachute Airwolf 912, N377JA, Pleasant Garden, NC, September 15, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 15, 2010, 16:10 local (20:10 UTC) - Place: Pleasant Garden, NC - Coordinates: 35.951946, -79.723052 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9519&lon=-79.7231&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 5, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA Greensboro FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77311 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA480 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77311/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77311 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA480 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control on takeoff during an encounter with a wind gust. ## 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: [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: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the powered parachute stated that, prior to the flight, he set up a wind sock in a pasture comprised of hilly terrain and lined by trees. Before beginning his takeoff, the wind sock indicated that the wind was calm. During the takeoff, the powered parachute encountered a gust of wind and was blown left where it collided with bushes. As a result of the impact, the vertical front support tube received structural damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation ## Factual narrative The pilot of the powered parachute stated that he set up a wind sock in a pasture located in hilly terrain lined by trees prior to the flight. Before beginning his takeoff, the wind sock indicated the winds were calm. However, during the takeoff, the powered parachute encountered a gust of wind, was blown to the left, and collided with some bushes. The vertical front support tube received structural damage. The nearest weather reporting facility is located 14 miles northwest of the accident site and was reporting no wind gusts at the time of the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site confirmed the pilot's statement of gusty wind conditions. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the powered parachute. ## Aircraft - Registration: N377JA (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: POWRACHUTE LLC AIRWOLF 912 - Category: Powered parachute - Serial number: A113ULS - Airframe hours: 67 - Engines: ROTAX 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ricks Walter G III - Registered owner: Ricks Walter G III - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 2, 2009, 67 hours before - Departed: Pleasant Garden, NC - Destination: Pleasant Garden, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: serious; private, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 87 total, 22 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: GSO, 14 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 20100915047189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100915047189A), Sep 15, 2010: Powrachute AIRWOLF 912, Pleasent Garden, NC, Substantial damage. On September 15, 2010, at about 1610 EDT. An airwolf 912, N377JA experimental light sport powered parachute, registered to [privacy data omitted] experienced a… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77311. 6.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 526 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336705&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336581&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336580&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Extract Pilot Logbook (item 4, .PDF, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336582&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Extract%20Pilot%20Logbook-Master.PDF - Extract Aircraft Logbook (item 5, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336583&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Extract%20Aircraft%20Logbook-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 View of powered parachute at rest. Photo FAA (item 6, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336586&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20View%20of%20powered%20parachute%20at%20rest.%20Photo%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 2 View of wind sock put up by pilot. Photo FAA (item 7, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336587&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20View%20of%20wind%20sock%20put%20up%20by%20pilot.%20Photo%20FAA-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.