Accident Buckeye Dream Machine N4394V,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 167849
 
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Date:Tuesday 8 July 2014
Time:07:50
Type:Buckeye Dream Machine
Owner/operator:Private
Registration: N4394V
MSN: 6062
Year of manufacture:2001
Engine model:Rotax 582
Fatalities:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage: None
Category:Accident
Location:Palmer Ranch, SW of Ansley, NE -   United States of America
Phase: Take off
Nature:Private
Departure airport:Ansley, NE
Destination airport:Ansley, NE
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The noncertificated pilot attempted to depart from the 600-foot-long grass field to the west in a powered parachute, but it did not lift off, so he turned the powered parachute around and attempted to depart to the east. The powered parachute again did not lift off and subsequently collided with a fence. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Performance estimates for the powered parachute noted that the takeoff roll could vary between 150 and 500 ft. The closest aviation weather reporting station, located 16 nautical miles northwest of the accident site, reported a 10-knot wind from the northwest, which would have resulted in a headwind for the westerly takeoff attempt. It could not be determined why the powered parachute did not lift off during the westerly takeoff attempt. However, for the easterly takeoff attempt, it is likely the tailwind would have decreased the parachute’s takeoff performance. Had the pilot aborted the takeoff with sufficient runway remaining, the powered parachute might not have collided with the fence. There is no evidence that the pilot attempted to abort the takeoff before colliding with the fence, and it is unknown if the pilot perceived the imminent collision.
Probable Cause: The powered parachute's reduced takeoff performance in tailwind conditions for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Contributing to the accident was the noncertificated pilot's decision to not abort the takeoff before the powered parachute collided with the fence.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: CEN14LA346
Status: Investigation completed
Duration:
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB
FAA register: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=4394V

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
09-Jul-2014 16:56 Geno Added
09-Jul-2014 17:55 harro Updated [Narrative]
21-Dec-2016 19:28 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency]
30-Nov-2017 18:50 ASN Update Bot Updated [Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Plane category]

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