ERA16LA254

NTSB accident investigation · Buckeye Dream Machine · Hartford, KY · July 10, 2016

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 10, 2016, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC)
Place
Hartford, KY
Injuries
1 serious
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N3519TBuckeye Dream Machine
Defining event
Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 13, 2020
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Parties
FAA
Case key
93595

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined and the pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the aborted takeoff.

Findings · 4

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Not determinedNot determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determinedBuckeye DREAM MACHINE: 2 casesAll aircraft: 2,247 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotBuckeye DREAM MACHINE: 3 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedBuckeye DREAM MACHINE: 1 caseAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: fence/fence postEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcomeBuckeye DREAM MACHINE: 1 caseAll aircraft: 313 cases

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The student pilot of the powered parachute reported that, during the takeoff roll from an airport parking lot, the engine started to "sputter," so he chose to abort the takeoff. While attempting to do so, he lost control of the powered parachute and collided with a fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. A postaccident examination and test run of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

On July 10, 2016, at 1845 central daylight time, a Buckeye Dream Machine powered parachute, N3519T, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff at Ohio County Airport (JQD), Hartford, Kentucky. The student pilot received serious injuries. The powered parachute was privately owned and operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight, which was originating at the time of the accident.According to the pilot, he prepared for takeoff from a parking lot at JQD. He started the engine and began the takeoff roll. During the takeoff roll the engine started to "sputter" and the pilot decided to abort the takeoff. While attempting to abort the takeoff, he "lost control" of the powered parachute and collided with a chain link fence. Examination of the powered parachute by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left frame support tube was broken from the main tube structure. A mechanic performed a cursory examination of the engine and test run was performed. During the examination and test run, no anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N3519T
Reported as
Buckeye Dream Machine (NO SERIES)
Category
Powered parachute
Serial number
4064
Built
2002
Airframe hours
197
Engine
Rotax 582, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
Last inspection
Condition · May 15, 2016
Departed
JQD · Hartford, KY
Destination
JQD · Hartford, KY
Airport
JQD · Ohio County
Equipment
None

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Student pilot
Age
62
Injuries
Serious
Certificate
Student
Medical
Sport pilot
Seat
Center
Restraint
4-point
Flight hours
30 total · 15 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
270° at 3 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
88 °F, dew point 64 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
OWB, 22 nm away

Docket · 5

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 MB in all.