Eagle Crash

[BWard]

I have been following this database for the last three years and have learned alot from this group, so I wanted to get your response on this video. First, let me say that I have been flying ppc's for the last three years. I learned to fly on the field in this video. I made my second solo flight on this field and tested for my BFI on this field. While the field is not perfect, I have never had any problems as long as wind conditions were within "flying range". Winds not withstanding, my concern is the collapse of the chute as the plane touches the ground. I would like input as to why this would occur. I fly a square chute, but I suspect all chutes could be prone to this same behavior. Any observations from the "pros" might prove helpful to the rest of us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8F_xNqFBKg

[Joe Pires]

not an expert..just thinking out loud. If you approached at 30 mph airspeed and lost a 10 mph headwind at the last moment would that cause a wing to unload? You might not notice this while flying because it reinflates so fast it just feels like a bump.

Very mysterious with my limited understanding.

[Cloudhopper]

I also am not an expert and have only been flying my PPC for 20 months but I agree that the chute appears to reinflate for an instant and then it gets blown to the right, pulling the cart in the same direction. I would guess a strong crosswind did the dirty deed. I fly a square chute. It has never "unloaded" on me.

[wheelharp1]

Looks like you hit a slight downdraft, that (after your wheels touched) continued to take your chute downward, unloading it. The forward motion of the cart then took the slack out of your lines and when it reached the end, it was sort of like a running dog hitting the end of his chain. The chute had drifted to the side by this time, so the cart was yanked over in that direction. This is all just my observation...I don't have much time in, but I have practiced rollovers a few times :rolleyes:



I just realized, you are posting this about Darrell, not your own experience....anyway glad he wasn't hurt. Looked like his right foot was in a position to get boogered up before the camera went black.

[Weaver]

No windsock ? Side wind ? Elliptical chute ?

[mignazito]

From the video of some passes made along the runway it is evident that there was a pretty strong crossswind. Note the PPC was blown to the extreme left side of the runway and beyond. The "runway" was very undulating as well though I don't see that as an issue based on the video. I suspect a "rotar" from the trees upwind (to the right) of the landing path. i.e. Wind blowing over a ground based object and forming a rotating mass of air downwind of the object. The wing also looks kind of big for a single seater which could be a contributing factor. Does anyone know the size of the wing? The fact that it is an elliptical is more or less irrelevent as long as the size was not too great for the load. A too big wing of any planform is an issue in extreme conditions like those that seem apparent in the video.

Marty

[Bruce Brown]

It simply looks to me like he hit the ground too hard and unloaded the chute. As the cart moved forward and the risers tightend the chute had fallen behind the cart instead of over it and he was pulled.

A video without the voiceover would be nice because the sound of the engine could provide some more clues.