BUCKEYE DREAM MACHIN N371P accident near Trenton, South Carolina

Probable cause

The non-certificated pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of directional control during takeoff, and collision with trees during the subsequent rejected takeoff.

NTSB analysis

The non-certificated pilot reported that he was conducting a local flight from a grass runway. During the initial climb, the powered parachute started drifting to the right and the pilot was unable maintain control with the foot pedals. The pilot elected to land on the same runway, but during the landing roll, he was unable to stop the powered parachute before it departed the runway and collided with trees. The powered parachute sustained substantial damage to the airframe during the accident sequence. A post-accident inspection by the pilot revealed that a parachute cord was wrapped around the right foot control pedal steering rod nut, impeding its movement. The pilot stated that he must have overlooked this anomaly during his preflight inspection and that there were otherwise no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the powered parachute that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA15CA307 for the full record.