Powrachute PEGASUS N31520 accident near Caddo Mills, Texas

Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate rolling preflight, which resulted in a loss of directional control in flight and subsequent collision with an object during landing.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that there were no anomalies during his preflight inspection of the powered parachute. During the rolling preflight, he observed the wing was inflated overhead and he did not notice any anomalies with the wing or the control lines. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot experienced an uncontrolled left turn. He subsequently executed a landing near an airport hangar and impacted a parked trailer during the landing roll. The passenger reported to a law enforcement officer that after takeoff the pilot stated that there was a problem and that the parachute was tangled.

Postaccident examination revealed the powered parachute’s tubular frame was fractured. The wing’s control lines and risers were attached to their respective mounting locations and flight control continuity was established from the airframe to the wing.

Based on the available information, it is likely that during the inflation and takeoff roll the pilot failed to notice a pressure knot (a tangle or knot held together by tension on the suspension lines during deployment but not otherwise present) or a line-over (a malfunction where a suspension line is misrouted over the canopy), which resulted in an uncommanded steep turn and loss of directional control after departure.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN23LA424 for the full record.