Pilot Debrief

POWRACHUTE CORP PEGASUS near New London, WI — 2008-09-20

Final reportCHI08LA297
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Date
2008-09-20
Location
New London, WI, USA
Airport
3WN4
Aircraft
POWRACHUTE CORP PEGASUS
Registration
N7084L
Category
Powered parachute
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's loss of directional control during landing due to failure of the nose wheel support as a result of an inadequate weld.

NTSB narrative

The student pilot and flight instructor of the powered parachute had accomplished approximately 10 touch-and-goes prior to the accident, and "everything went perfectly." However, when the aircraft touched down on the final landing the nose wheel support failed causing the aircraft to ground loop. During the accident sequence the steering bar struck the student pilot in the chest. A postaccident examination revealed that the nose wheel front fork support had failed at a welded joint immediately forward of the airframe attachment bolt. Visual examination of the weld indicated a lack of penetration at the joint. In addition, the weld material did not appear to be of a uniform thickness. The manufacturer subsequently issued a service bulletin advising owners of two failures of the welded joint on the front fork support. The manufacturer recommended that supports be replaced with a Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welded support. The original support may have been Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welded without proper penetration, according to the bulletin.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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