# NTSB WPR10LA032: Powrachute PC 2000, N4036U, Leadore, ID, October 25, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 25, 2009, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Leadore, ID - Coordinates: 44.692779, -113.495277 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6928&lon=-113.4953&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 19, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74952 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74952/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74952 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA032 ## Probable cause The stuck throttle cable and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during landing, which resulted in an inadvertent aerodynamic stall and hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause) - [Engine controls: power lever](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause) ## Analysis The pilot of the powered parachute reported that while in cruise flight and after increasing engine power, he discovered that the throttle cables were stuck and inoperable. He then attempted to reduce power, but the power reduction was too slow so he elected to land in an open field.During the landing flare, about 10 to 15 feet above the ground, the airplane's chute stalled, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent substantial damage to the powered parachute. The pilot reported that there were no anomalies with the airframe or engine prior to or during the flight, and he could not determine how the throttle had become inoperative. ## Factual narrative On October 25, 2009, about 1030 mountain daylight time, a Powrachute PC 2000 powered parachute, N4036U, sustained substantial damage following a forced landing near Leadore, Idaho. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight was being operated in accordance with Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight departed from the Leadore Airport (U00), Leadore, Idaho, about 0930. In a statement provided to the Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that while in cruise flight at an altitude of about 700 feet above ground level (agl), he attempted to increase engine power when he discovered that the throttle cable was stuck and inoperable. The pilot stated that when he retarded the throttle the engine power decreased "very slowly," at which time he elected to land in a large field. The pilot reported, "...at about 10 to 15 feet altitude, I tried to flare the chute to decrease my speed to land, but the chute stalled and I fell out of the sky." The pilot stated that damage to the aircraft included a bent wheel strut and structural damage to the propeller cage. The pilot further stated that he could not determine why the throttle cable had become stuck, and that there were no anomalies detected with the airframe or engine prior to or during the flight. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4036U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4036U-2018-01-18), registration cancelled 2018-01-18, S/N A045POW, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Powrachute PC 2000 - Registry model: [Powrachute PC 2000](https://openairdocs.org/model/powrachute-pc-2000) (registry code 05901OL) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Powered parachute - Serial number: A045POW - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dale Peterson - Registered owner: Ron Summers - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: Leadore, ID - Destination: Leadore, ID ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: serious; seat: front; flight hours: 120 total, 120 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: SMN, 45 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 20091025021369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091025021369A), Oct 25, 2009: Powrac PC2000, Leadore, ID, Substantial damage. At about 1045 on October 24, 2009, the pilot was having trouble with the throttle and was going to land in a field. The pilot cut the power and the canopy… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 29, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74952. 745 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 726 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324759&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324761&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-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.