# NTSB ERA12CA472: Six Chutter SKY Writer 2, Hamburg, NY, July 2, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 2, 2012, 06:50 local (10:50 UTC)
- Place: Hamburg, NY
- Coordinates: 42.700553, -78.908889 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7006&lon=-78.9089&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 7, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA Rodchester FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 84416
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA472
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84416/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84416
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA472

## Probable cause

The operation of a powered parachute by a non-certificated pilot. Contributing to the accident was the non-certificated pilot’s loss of aircraft control while landing.

## Findings

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

- [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/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)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: 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)
- [Landing: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The non-certificated pilot stated that he purchased the unregistered powered parachute on the internet. He stated that he practiced taxiing in the grass beside the runway at a private airport for 15 to 20 minutes at a time and that he would occasionally fly the powered parachute about 5 feet off of the ground and set it back down in the grass. No one witnessed the accident, and the powered parachute was found in the grass beside the runway partially inverted with the pilot inside. The pilot reported to the responding local law enforcement officer that he was attempting to land the aircraft and did not know what had caused the crash. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the undercarriage frame and engine mounts. The pilot did not keep a pilot log book, had received no flight training, and stated that he had not experienced any mechanical issues with the powered parachute.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he purchased the unregistered powered parachute on the internet. He stated he practiced taxiing in the grass beside the runway at a private airport for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, and that during that time, he would occasionally fly the powered parachute about 5 feet off of the ground and set it back down in the grass. No one witnessed the accident, and the powered parachute was found at the scene inverted with the pilot inside. Postaccident inspection revealed substantial damage to the undercarriage frame and engine mounts. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident site stated that the pilot held no pilot certificate and that the pilot could not produce maintenance records for the powered parachute. The pilot further stated that he was unsure if any maintenance records existed. The pilot did not keep a pilot log book, had received no flight training, and stated that he had not experienced any mechanical issues with the powered parachute.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SIX CHUTTER SKY WRITER 2
- Category: Powered parachute, amateur-built
- Serial number: 97-1727-2
- Airframe hours: 26
- Engines: Rotax 503 50 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Departed: 4G2, Hamburg, NY
- Destination: 4G2, Hamburg, NY
- Airport: 4G2, Hamburg Inc. Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: serious; seat: front; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KBUF, 16 nm away

## Docket (9 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 7, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84416. 11.8 MB in all.

- Memorandum for Record - Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375492&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Pilot Interview Summaries (item 2, .PDF, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375493&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summaries-Master.PDF
- FAA Inspector Interview Summary and Statement (item 3, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375540&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Interview%20Summary%20and%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum for Record (Friend of Pilot) (item 4, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375148&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20(Friend%20of%20Pilot)-Master.PDF
- Hamburg (BUF) Meteorological Observations (item 5, .PDF, 183 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374224&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Hamburg%20(BUF)%20Meteorological%20Observations-Master.PDF
- Reports from Local Agencies (Hamburg, NY Police Department Complaint #12-016235) (item 6, .PDF, 287 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375488&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Local%20Agencies%20(Hamburg,%20NY%20Police%20Department%20Complaint%20%2312-016235)-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 - Overview of Wreckage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374225&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Overview%20of%20Wreckage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - View of Engine (Courtesy of FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375489&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20View%20of%20Engine%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 - View of Tachometer (Courtesy of FAA) (item 9, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375535&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20View%20of%20Tachometer%20(Courtesy%20of%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.

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