GAA19CA208

NTSB accident investigation · Airframes Unlimited Outlaw · Elizabeth, CO · April 15, 2019

Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
April 15, 2019, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC)
Place
Elizabeth, CO
Injuries
1 serious
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N5622DAirframes Unlimited Outlaw
Defining event
Takeoff: Loss of lift
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 6, 2019
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20190415002829A
Case key
99273

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

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his subsequent decision to initiate a turn, which resulted in the powered parachute’s descent and impact with a fence.

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.

Performance/control parameters: airspeedAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedAirframes Unlimited OUTLAW: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,681 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: fence/fence postEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationAirframes Unlimited OUTLAW: 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 pilot of the powered parachute reported that, during takeoff from a hayfield, the wind was from the southwest at 6 mph and that he departed to the southwest. He added that, once airborne, the climb rate was "slower than normal," and he began a 180° left turn. On the downwind, the climb rate reduced to zero, and the powered parachute started descending. He realized he did not have enough altitude to complete the 180° turn. The powered parachute impacted the top rail of a fence, and the pilot subsequently shut the magnetos off. The airplane then impacted a second fence and the ground. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the powered parachute that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located about 16 miles northwest of the accident site reported that, about 7 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 020° at 9 knots. The pilot reported that the wind was from 245° at 6 knots and that the density altitude was "6,800+" ft.

Factual narrative

The powered parachute pilot reported that, during takeoff from a hayfield, the wind was from the southwest at 6 mph and he departed to the southwest. He added that, once airborne, the climb rate was "slower than normal" and he began a 180° left turn. On the "downwind", the climb rate reduced to "zero" and the powered parachute started descending. He realized he did not have enough altitude to complete the 180° turn. The powered parachute impacted the top rail of a fence, he shut the magnetos off, and after impacting a second fence impacted the ground. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the powered parachute that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located about 16 miles northwest of the accident reported that, about 7 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 020° at 9 knots. The pilot reported that the wind was from 245° at 6 knots and the density altitude was "6,800+" ft.

Aircraft

Registration
N5622D
Reported as
Airframes Unlimited Outlaw
Category
Powered parachute
Serial number
OL 00579
Built
2007
Airframe hours
331
Engine
Rotax 582 Blue Head, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
Last inspection
Condition · March 3, 2019
Departed
Elizabeth, CO
Destination
Elizabeth, CO
Equipment
Handheld GPS

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
Pilot
Age
67
Injuries
Serious
Certificates
Sport Pilot, Commercial, Flight instructor, Airline transport, Flight engineer
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Sport pilot, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
May 25, 2015
Seat
Front
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
9,947 total · 411 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
20° at 9 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
23,000 ft broken
Temperature
70 °F, dew point 27 °F
Observed at
KAPA, 16 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 13, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.7 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.