The pilot told investigators that during the takeoff roll in the powered parachute, the parachute did not come up straight, but to one side, so he aborted the takeoff.
He reduced the throttle, but the aircraft didn’t slow down, then pulled him to one side of the runway in Gold Canyon, Arizona. He tried applying brakes, but he was on gravel and the front brake locked up, and would not turn the aircraft. The aircraft then slid forward and hit a barricade.
The steering bar and frame were substantially damaged. The pilot was seriously injured.
The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during an aborted takeoff, which resulted in collision with a barricade.
To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.
This January 2020 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
