Powrachute PEGASUS N52631

Summary

On 21 October 2023 at about 13:28 local time, a Powrachute PEGASUS registered N52631 was involved in an accident near Manhattan, Kansas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 October 2023 at 13:28

Classification

Accident

Location

Manhattan, Kansas, United States

Coordinates

39.2462, -96.5941

Aircraft

Powrachute PEGASUS

Registration

N52631

Year built

2006

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Manhattan → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN24LA031

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot’s improper modification of the engine cooling system that resulted in an engine overheat and total loss of power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to continue the flight after the engine overheat light illuminated instead of performing a precautionary landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Before departing on the local area flight in the experimental powered parachute, the pilot installed a large heavy-duty deer feed bag that partially covered the radiator. He was concerned that the experimental engine would run “too cold” during the flight unless the radiator was partially covered. The powered parachute was flying about 400 ft above ground level when the pilot noticed that the engine overheat light illuminated. The pilot decided to continue flying. Shortly after, the engine sustained a total loss of engine power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a road and the powered parachute came to rest upright on a grass embankment near the road. The powered parachute sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and engine mount. Postaccident examination revealed no mechanical anomalies with the engine. The large heavy-duty deer feed bag was found covering about 3/4 of the radiator surface area and was secured with two bungee cords. According to the airframe and engine manufacturers, neither company has published any guidance on covering up the radiator for flight operations. The large heavy-duty deer feed bag obstructed the radiator inlet and restricted its designed cooling capability. The engine then did not have a source of adequate cooling, which likely resulted in the engine overheating and a total loss of engine power. The pilot noticed the engine overheat light was illuminated and continued with normal flight operations when guidance from the engine manufacturer states to perform a precautionary landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.