Beaver Dam Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Surry, Virginia 37239
Sunday, September 7, 2008 14:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of the powered parachute stated that he started his takeoff roll on runway 27. The parachute canopy partially inflated with a right side end cell closure. The pilot stated, "he did not observe the tangled steering lines on the takeoff roll and failed to ensure that the parachute canopy was controllable". The powered parachute made a hard right turn at liftoff, reached an altitude of about five feet, and the parachute canopy collapsed. The powered parachute impacted the runway hard and rolled over inverted. The airframe received structural damage. The pilot conducted an engine shutdown and exited the powered parachute. The pilot stated there were no mechanical problems with the powered parachute.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper handling of the powered parachute during takeoff/initial climb.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/7/2008
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Surry
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37239
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 370239N
Event Location Longitude 0764650W
Event Location Airport Beaver Dam Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID VA33
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 100
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1454 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 68
Weather Observation Facility ID PHF
Elevation of weather observation facility 43
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24522
NTSB Notification Source EROC
NTSB Notification Date Sep 10 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 17 2008 2:09PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Richmond FAA/FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N723JH
NTSB Number MIA08CA191
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Airframes Unlimited
Aircraft Model USA-1B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2007-0098
Certified Max Gross Weight 450
Aircraft Category --
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 16
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Joel C. Harris
Aircraft Owner Street Address 9325 Buckman Avenue
Aircraft Owner City Norfolk
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 23503
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Kenneth E. Mahoney
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 531 Birmingham Avenue
Operator City Norfolk
Operator State VA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 23503
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code VA33
Departure City Surry
Departure State VA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code VA33
Destination City Surry
Destination State VA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 17 2008 2:09PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 1800
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --