Crash prompts nationwide warning

The AAIB's preliminary finding is that a key structural component of the paramotor craft failed in flight.

Notice issued on Tuesday warns all pilots not to indulge in "extreme manoeuvres" until the structural integrity of such machines is checked.

Several instructors, students and other pilots of a paramotor school had spent Sunday, July 8 on land south of Barnhorn Road discussing paramotor flying, conducting ground instruction and waiting for conditions to become suitable for flying.

At around 7.30pm, in conditions described as a light south-westerly wind and good visibility, three of the more experienced pilots took off."

Disaster struck 20 minutes later when Kevin Rymer-Craig, of Beech, Road, Matfield in Kent, with five years' experience of paramotors, plunged to the ground at Middle Barn Farm.

He was attended by paramedics and flown to Eastbourne District General Hospital. He died two days later without having regained consciousness.

The report says: "The pilot involved in the accident was flying a harness and wing combination belonging to the school, at which he was an instructor.

"He had aborted his first three attempts to launch because on each occasion the wing made an uncommanded left turn on take-off."

With the assistance of another paramotor pilot, he found that a small D-ring had become jammed, resulting in one line becoming shorter than the other.

"Together they were able to free the riser and the subsequent launch was successful."

After he had been airborne for several minutes, the pilot was seen to climb to 1,000 feet.

"This indicated to the more experienced pilots that he was about to carry out some more extreme manoeuvres, such as wingovers or a 'spiral.'

"During the subsequent turn the wing was seen to collapse partially over approximately 40 per cent of its span. Shortly afterwards the wing re-inflated."

The report describes a series of manoeuvres which were then executed culminating in a "sat" - defined as a fast rotational manoeuvre.

"At a height of approximately 150 ft several witnesses heard the engine note increase, indicating that the pilot may have applied full power.

"The spiral appreared to become less severe, suggesting to the witnesses that the paramotor was beginning to recover to normal flight but, almost immediately afterwards, it was clear that it had hit the ground (although the last 30ft of its descent were obscured by low hedges and trees)."

The bulletin says: "The initial investigation of this fatal accident has revealed that at least one in-flight component failure occurred to the metal structure of the paramotor."

Examination of components from several other paramotors has revealed distortion or damage to components.

"Such distortion indicates that these components have been loaded close to their failure stress levels."

The report warns that, given that each harness may be used with a variety of wings and that the mass of pilot and machine is variable, "many arms and fittings in use may not be sufficiently strong to sustain the loads experienced in certain manoeuvres.

"Without further information, the AAIB regards this as a potential flight safety hazard.

"Accordingly, all pilots are advised to refrain from extreme manoeuvres until the structural integrity of these machines is ascertained."

The AAIB says its investigation into the accident is continuing; that Tuesday's bulletin contains the facts known to date to inform both the aviation industry and the public.

An inquest has been opened and adjourned.

The AAIB will publish a full report when its investigtion is completed.