# NTSB WPR13LA398: Strong Dream Machine, N9032Y, Bieber, CA, September 3, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 3, 2013, 08:20 local (15:20 UTC) - Place: Bieber, CA - Coordinates: 41.098056, -121.315277 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0981&lon=-121.3153&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 87980 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA398 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87980/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87980 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA398 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inability to maintain aircraft control during takeoff after several suspension lines became entangled in, and were subsequently severed by, the propeller blades. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Strong J/Strong B DREAM MACHINE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000/cases.md?model=059009V), [All aircraft, 72 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Strong J/Strong B DREAM MACHINE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=059009V), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Strong J/Strong B DREAM MACHINE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=059009V), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Strong J/Strong B DREAM MACHINE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=059009V), [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. - [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Strong J/Strong B DREAM MACHINE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=059009V), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Strong J/Strong B DREAM MACHINE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=059009V), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Strong J/Strong B DREAM MACHINE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=059009V), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during takeoff in the powered parachute, he felt a slight tug on the riser lines, which then increased in intensity. He was unable to maintain control of the powered parachute, which subsequently collided with trees. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that, during takeoff, several of the parachute's suspension lines became entangled in the propeller for reasons that could not be determined and were then severed. As a result, it was not possible for the pilot to maintain aircraft control. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 2013, at 0820 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Dream Machine powered parachute, N9032Y, impacted trees during takeoff near Bieber, California. The sport pilot/owner operated the powered parachute under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a personal flight. The pilot received serious injuries, and the passenger received minor injuries. The powered parachute sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight that departed from a private airstrip, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that during takeoff, he felt a slight tug on the riser lines, which increased in intensity. He was unable to maintain control of the powered parachute, and it subsequently collided with trees. According to the FAA inspector, the postaccident examination of the wreckage indicated that during takeoff, several of the suspension lines from the parachute became entangled in the propeller for reasons that could not be determined, and the suspension lines had been severed at the same length. The pilot did not fill-out or return the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9032Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9032Y), registered now, S/N 6203, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STRONG DREAM MACHINE - Registry model: [Strong J/Strong B DREAM MACHINE](https://openairdocs.org/model/strong-j-strong-b-dream-machine) (registry code 059009V) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Powered parachute - Serial number: 6203 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 800 - Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: Bieber, CA - Destination: Bieber, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: serious; sport pilot; medical: sport pilot; seat: front; flight hours: 2,500 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: AAT, 33 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 20130903017549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130903017549A), Sep 3, 2013: Strong J/Strong B DREAM MACHINE, Bieber, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that during take off rotation he felt a slight tug then a larger tug. Pilot stated he then lost control and crashed into some trees. Examination… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87980. 138 KB in all. - Letter of Record - FAA Findings (item 1, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431810&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Letter%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Findings-Master.PDF - Photo 1 – Severed Suspension Lines (item 2, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431811&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Severed%20Suspension%20Lines%0D%0A-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.