Mid-air collision between two paramotors, one foot launched machine and one trike, near Zeewolde
Two paramotors, one a foot launched machine and the other a paramotor trike took off shortly after each other, from a field approx. 10 kilometres southwest of Zeewolde. The intention was to head together towards Zeewolde, for a local flight.
At a certain point, the wing of the trike came into contact with the propeller of the foot launched machine. As a result, the pilot of the trike lost control of his machine which started to lose altitude, in a spin. The pilot opened his reserve chute. This chute opened below the main wing, which meant that the pilot was unable to retrieve the main wing. The trike ended up in a tree and the pilot remained unharmed. The other pilot flew back to the takeoff location where he completed a safe landing. Both paramotors suffered damage.
The Paramotor Flying Division of the Royal Netherlands Aeronautical Association recommended its members to check the installation of the reserve chute systems, since in particular in the case of (main) wings for paramotor trikes, it is possible that the reserve chute is unable to open above the main wing.
The Dutch Safety Board did not further investigate the occurrence.
