It Wasn't So Bad... Until The PPC Broke Free From The Tree

There are good days and bad days... and a good day starts going bad when you land your PPC in a tree and gets worse when the PPC falls out of the aforementioned tree. Ouch...

NTSB Identification: ERA11LA326
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, June 04, 2011 in Russellville, TN
Aircraft: BUCKEYE DREAM MACHINE, registration: N3561F
Injuries: 1 Serious.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On June 4, 2011, about 1600 eastern daylight time, a Buckeye Dream Machine powered parachute, N3561F, collided with, and remained suspended in trees in the vicinity of Lake Cherokee, Russellville, Tennessee. Subsequently, the certificated sport pilot was seriously injured when the airframe fell from the trees. The powered parachute was registered and operated by the pilot/owner under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated from Moore-Murrell Airport (MOR), Morristown, Tennessee, at an undetermined time.

Police officers spoke to the pilot for about two to three minutes before the aircraft broke out of the tree tops and fell to the ground. During the brief conversation between the pilot and the officers, the purpose of the flight and the circumstances of the collision with trees were not discussed. Due to his injuries, the pilot could not be interviewed.

Examination of the airframe by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the airframe tubing. The inspector estimated that the eight-gallon fuel tank contained five gallons of fuel. The oil reservoir tank displayed impact damage but still contained oil. The ignition switch was found in the “OFF” position. A cursory examination of the engine revealed that the carburetor was separated from its mounts, but was still attached by control cables.

Weather reported at McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), Knoxville, Tennessee, 44 miles southwest of the site, and Tri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI), Blountville, Tennessee, 40 miles northeast, both included calm winds at the time of the accident.

A detailed examination of the airframe and engine were scheduled for a later date.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov