when you were blowing water out of your nose, I thought, he isn't broken yet, but the lines were a complete surprise, and I was looking very hard because of the description. One of those setups. I watched tucker and a friend, flying a really curvy river and I was thinking, they might have the same problem, because it was new area to them both. Most times you can see the path of the poles, but then, and then!!!!
@@jimtalltheislandbrothers6639 You never look for the lines, you would never be able to see of find them on time. I'm not a paraglider but am a skydiver, we are all taught to look for the towers or masts instead, specifically when high up the shadows they cast if the weather is sunny (yes when high up, even the towers aren't that easy to spot). When you're then lower you'd then have an idea where they are.
@@flybeep1661 agreed. As a viewer I was trying to see if I could spot it after the incident but no chance. I am trying to spot something in the comfort of my home and cannot imagine how tricky it is in real life for you guys/girls out there.
Congratulations you walked away from that! And thank you for posting! Why? Because this is a very educational video! Should be compulsory in every paramotor training. And now you are a much wiser pilot:-)
Good observation and I hadn't thought about this incident as part of the educational training. As careful as I am, and from above I was looking for lines, other than the large power lines a quarter of a mile away from the crash site, I could see none! I could hardly see them after crashing!! I guess the bottom line is never fly low until you have scouted out the area first hand!!
Even if you scout it, who is to say someone didn't come the next day and throw up a cable ? Anytime you fly low like that you are gambling with your life.
Glad your ok. That was a perfect storm condition - flying into the light, you and the height of the lines just right so as to camouflaged them perfectly into those distances hills - thanks for sharing you your experience, I am just about to start learning this spring and this is one of my greatest fears as I want to do just that style of flying, low and slow.... avoiding the lines of course. Thanks for sharing you experience Cheers, Patrick
Glad you weren't hurt too bad, Craig. Good training video. The problem is the height, not how good the pilot is at seeing power cable poles. If you see them 99.9% of the time, which you wont, , it still isn't good enough. There will always be one cable, so flying at that height, it's just a matter of time before crashing into the first one. Flying along a river just 30 feet higher will reduce the danger enormously -then it's just the 40,000 volt high voltage lines to think about. Good luck, and thanks for posting this.
I had been flying the area for over 6 years but never that low in exactly that spot. It never really crossed my mind! That's how it sneaks up on a person though...then it's too late.
The pole was hidden behind that grove... you're lucky to not only survive the fall, the water could have been deeper, OR... those lines could have arced and fried your ass! I bet you've told some good stories about this since... what doesn't kill us makes fodder for stories for the grandkids!
Knowing that you were going to fly into the power lines ahead of time, I still wasn't able to see the power lines or the posts on video until you were too late. That's tough. I'm glad you're OK.
Thanks for asking. Since I have re-designed and re-built the Flattop to accommodate my flying needs, the parts that were broken I was able to repair at minimal cost. I do like the basic design but it needed some serious adjustments. Happy flying!
Yes it could have been much different for sure! I am extremely careful around power lines...though you wouldn't know it by this video. As you look at it, try to see any lines! Plus, I was flying into the sun, so vis was a bit hampered. The pole on the right was behind the trees and the left one was clear out of the flood plane. I didn't see a connection...
Nope guys Tim is correct. Never EVER fly below 50 feet any place you have not already reconnoitred at 200. TWICE! (or from the ground) Anybody who ploughs into a power-line (except during some other kind of emergency) at low altitude is at fault. There is no excuse. It's as bad as running out of fuel. Poor piloting due to NOT planning.
dmonkface Yes that is exactly what I am saying. You want to either check the area from the ground (best way) or you want to fly over at an altitude that is CERTAINLY safe from transmission lines checking carefully as you go BOTH DIRECTIONS. Frankly I only fly "nap of the earth" in places where others are already doing it. You should realise that being what I call a "flying dirt biker" (skimming the ground) is actually quite dangerous. Note how Tucker Gott limits the amount of time he spends low to the ground. He DOES it because it's very fun but he knows the risks so he does a little ground skimming then goes back up for a little fun doing wingovers etc. which are much safer than ground skimming (once you are good and safe at it). In this way he has the fun of low flight but it is limited to only about 10% of his flying so his risk exposure is low. Smart kid. Look for the channel by "Tucker Gott" he doesn't try to teach paramotoring but he does talk about safety and he does a good job of showing you what it is really like to be a safe and sane paramotor pilot. The pilot that made this video is AT FAULT for this indecent, if he were a licensed pilot he would probably LOSE his license after the investigation was over.
Thanks. I was more saying to myself...'how careless/stupid'. I was happy it turned out as well as it did. Could have been a lot worse for sure! I usually am very careful when flying low. Those wires were almost impossible to see!
Thanks for sharing. This is a good reminder to have situational awareness when you fly Paramotor 😅 I’m looking forward to getting into the sport. I can’t wait! Glad you’re okay.
Crashing doesn't describe what happened with most of the 'downings'. The Vittorazi engine was a lemon. It ran hot, over 500 degrees even with all the carb adjustments, etc. Shrouds were just being invented for that engine and I was experimenting with what I could. But the bottom line was that every little thing led to an engine out. The spark plug blew out twice from soft aluminum. the carb fell apart several times. (Things that were not knowable during pre-flight.) You are right, big story behind every one of the non-scheduled landings...and yes, 2 or 3 could be considered crashes. Prop strikes occur when the prop makes contact with anything, including the lines on your wing. When learning to fly (and I had no instruction with learning to fly a trike) lots of mistakes are made. What I didn't know is that one of those strikes started a hairline fracture in the aluminum engine mount. Then subsequent vibrations from the engine caused the fracture, that was invisible to the naked eye, to progress completely around the mount. When I was flying Dumont Dunes at about 50' with the wind, the mount completely failed. Everything fell off and of course the prop exploded. I went down hard!! But the design of the trike and cage was good and I was not injured badly. Those are the things only experience teaches. It's a great sport.
2 important lessons learned here..... 1-when looking for power lines that are near invisible, look for the power poles, then trace back to the lines. Even though there's an orange ball on that line, ANY utility company knows that the main attraction in that area is the water and flying over it, they can hang orange streamers from the line over the water. It's common here in the cascades. 2- Just like hiking, scuba diving, 4 wheeling, etc. NEVER go alone, always have a buddy or someone with you. He could have easily been knocked unconscious and drown in that stream, or broke a leg or neck and can't move, who would even begin to know where to look for him out there in that desolate area. Vulture food... But... Good job for the 3 point landing. As they say in pilot school "Any landing that you can Crawl away from is a good one!"😁👍🤣
Thanks for sharing at the expense of your pride. Surley you knew all the Arm Chair pilots out there would be rattlingvtheir sticks at you as you uploaded, but you did anyways so we could all see and learn from this unfortunate event. Glad you walked away! Thanks again.
Wow, glad you walked away from that. Pretty much how my first crash in a R22 happened 22 years ago. Low flying over a narrow riverbed, out of nowhere: power lines. Pulled up and over, hit it with my skids and tail and down I went, 50 ft into the river. Always scout the locations before low flying.
It was an area I was very familiar with...but had never flown low enough to run into...I mean 'see' those tiny lines. Glad you survived as well. Have you welcomed many to our club?
Thanks a lot for posting this. I just ordered a Flat Top and I go to training next month. I'm really looking forward to this sport but I have concerns about hazards like this. I watched the footage several times over and never saw those lines coming either. Very good lesson I'll take to heart. Videos like this help us newcomers be a little more prepared as we begin learning this sport. Thanks again.
Well, 6 years ago when I trained with Dell, I was so excited and focused on flying he could have done just about anything and I wouldn't have known any difference. I wanted the safest system available and he sold me on that. Having a few 'incidences' and seeing some friends with Flattops have incidences, there is value in the design. However, I have had to re-design/re-build just about everything, but keeping that basic design. On my third flight the exhaust mounts came apart and it blew into the prop on launch. Pow! Parts all over! He did stand behind that and replaced the parts. But what I didn't know is the Vittorazi Classic (which was new at the time) was a very flawed engine. I would avoid buying that engine, 5 years of problems!!! (I have since purchased the Vittorazi Plus and really like it.) Of course, Dell tries to put blame on the pilot rather than where it belonged, but that is his M.O. There of course is a lot of pilot error for sure though. You can search him on google and youtube to see how he deals with people. I purchased the whole system from him with an XL K-2 wing. When I drove 300+ miles to pick it up, he said he sold my wing to someone else... I was not a happy camper. The list of things is way too long to detail. His training is okay if you can get his attention focused on you and not on himself. It is the most expensive for sure. He is always hyping/promoting/selling. I don't know where he is doing his training. The last I knew it was Galveston...They haven't kicked him out of Texas yet like: Oregon, California, Mexico and I think Washington. Most of the guys I fly with liked other training options and are doing great. Any way, If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. I try to not condemn Dell, but his perception of 'reality' is very unique so prepare yourself if you continue. Where do you live and how old are you?
Craig Harrison hey Craig stuff happens... I have been reading the comments and I see you find opportunity to learn from all things. I fly Flat Top Ninja with and without a Trike. GIN Sprint 29L & DUDEK Nucleon WRC 34. Metro Phoenix, lets fly sometime
Always reconnoiter the area before low level flight. And keep in mind an area you flew previously may have new lines put up since your last flight. Glad you were ok! Similar has happened to me although I was able to dodge the lines. I had flown the area a year previously and in that time some small telephone lines had been put up...definitely a learning lesson.
Channing here on the wife's computer...glad you didn't get killed. I suppose it would be a great training video to discuss with fellow pilots. I understand the thrill flying low, James Allred posted his near miss with power lines sometime back and the video of a guy cruising low over a river in N.C. striking a suspension line ending up in the water. I suppose my take is when cruising in the basement...and you see homes / shops and or small building near by...there is a good chance they are getting power from electrical lines. You made a modification to your cage on the Flat Top, was that to protect your suspension lines from the prop? Start Safe, Stay Safe...
Craig Harrison: Yes, it could have been much worse. When I lived on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, a crop duster who flew from this airstrip every day came in a little lower than usual and clipped a power line. The plane flipped and the pilot was killed. I'm very glad your outcome was just a little damage to your rig.
Sorry to hear that about your friend. Having an incredible experience with an out of body death experience when I crashed my motocross bike and broke my neck, I learned if your number is up you are out of here. If not...well, it looks like luck.
wow, I had to go back to the crash scene and pause the video and then look frame by frame for those power lines. They are almost totally invisible. Glad to see you were ok and are back to flying. May all your crashes end up this good. = ) Yeh, I know video is 4 years old,. : (
Glad you were ok and your machine was repaired. I plan to fly all my routes at a little safer altitude, maybe 100ft and scout out any potential problems like this before going down on the deck. I know it takes some of the adventure out of it.. Thanks for sharing and helping us all learn from it. Of course, Hindsight is always 20/20!!!
I make it a point to fly above tree tops exspecially when flying low over rivers ,roads in my trike! You just cannot see the lines . Great ed video . Glad you care enough about your fellow pilots to post it .
Hey, it's not that bad! If you'd have hit the power lines with your body instead of just your lines or wing, it is unlikely to survive. And, your lines and wing didn't even stay caught in the power lines! Was your equipment relatively OK afterwards? This has always been a fear of mine- hitting power lines. I've even had bad dreams of trying to avoid power lines while flying lol.
Oh man you are so lucky. I don't think anyone can blame you for not seeing them because they blended right in. Glad you're ok. I think I'm going ponder long and hard whether to take this up or not because I'm not spring chicken anymore.
I've heard Tucker say those things can be invsible in certain light and certain angles. I BELIEVE him now, I NEVER saw those before you hit them. Thanks for posting. Scary as HELL! That will sure keep ME on MY toes, when I get up there to join you guys. Glad it was no more painful than it was (I'm pretty sure it hurt like hell).
It really was not bad. My trike and cage saved me. A bolt vibrated loose on my silencer 2 weeks ago (that I should have checked) and it fell off striking my prop! Another rough emergency landing in the boonies! The trike saved me again.
@@paramotorman1 Good to hear. It LOOKED bad. Glad it wasn't. I'm probably going trike...you are increasing the lean in that direction, heavily, with those comments. I've seen PPM guys in other videos say look for poles, not lines, much more visible, not that I know anything, just what I've seen, and appears to make sense.
@@MrJdsenior After 7 years of modifying this trike I decided to design and fabricate my own brand. Just doing the final touches and soon I will have one to put out there. Fingers crossed.
Just wondering if you created a phase to phase short. Should have been very loud if you did. Local breaker would have de-energized until the reclosure attempted to re-energize, which would have been fine assuming you didn't twist the lines.
Wow, that was quite some fall! You are really lucky you landed in a soft stream and not on tough ground. The outcome could have been very different. Glad to see you weren't harmed. :)
Unfortunately people who keep posting these ppg crash accident videos catches unwanted attention from the FAA and will only result in unwanted additional regulations and restrictions, It's already happening if you've been paying attention.
Thanks Gizz. What is interesting is that in 6 years I have had 38 emergency landings. Must be a world record! Everything from running out of gas to my entire engine mount coming apart and exploding off my frame while 50 feet in the air at Dumont Sand Dunes. There is a story behind each one of them...but like the fantastic flight this morning, it's worth it!!!
Maybe you couldn't have avoided the exploding engine mount, but if you're having that many emergencies, maybe you should reconsider the way you fly. Of course there's a story behind each one of them, but did you learn something from each one? Like, you know, how not to do the same thing again? Man, if there are 38 different ways to crash, maybe it's not such a safe sport. But if you're making the same mistakes over and over, it's only a matter of time before your luck runs out.
I knew they were coming so I was watching to see if I could identify them before you did....nope. Totally invisible until you reacted to them. This is an awesome lesson about power lines. Never assume you will see them in time, or there will be visible poles to help you see them. Overfly the area first to ensure it is safe. Glad you are good and flying again. I wish power companies would put small markers on power lines across areas like this where they might not be visible to aircraft or even tall trucks and construction equipment.
When you see a house all by itself, you gotta ask yourself where the power is coming from. If you don’t know, climb and look. Very happy you made it out uninjured. This is my biggest fear as I get into this sport. I’m getting the same gear as you. Hope you are still flying.
Yikes! glad you weren't seriously hurt! I'm always paranoid about power lines and if I even see poles I rise up until I can spot the lines... but these look like they were really hard to spot... Will remember this as a lesson in my future flying.
I literally did the exact same thing a year or so ago. I luckily saw the lines a little earlier than you did but had no choice but to try and go under. I cleared them but was too low and hit the ground and landed in a river about the same size but was full of water. I spent what felt like over an hour in freezing water trying to save my ppc. The water filled my shoot and was dragging it down stream. I finally got it to stop and it was nothing short of a miracle that I got the water out of the shoot and up out of the water.
In the future they really need to start putting little high visibility flags every few meters on power lines so any aircraft that need to have emergency landings can see power lines relatively easily.
I was told there were power lines. I watched for power lines. I saw the power lines after the pilot was halfway crashing to the water. Well, I'm glad to see it was a chuckling walk-away.
Easily avoidable. The posts could be seen. You always need to assume they are attached to something. Do a higher pass to check an area before a low pass.
Derrick Haze Who the hell are you to tell me what I should or shouldn't do. Maybe you should follow your own advice and mind YOUR own business rather that go around bossing others.
I nearly flew into power lines in my ultralight- I passed about 5-10 feet above the wires and didn't see them until I went over them. This happened over 30 years ago and I still have nightmares about it. I was distracted and focusing my attention on something on the ground- I failed to maintain situational awareness. I also descended below wire height in an unknown area. Two big mistakes that nearly killed me. Hopefully someone will read this and learn from my blunder. Happy flying and be careful!
Yes, it has been my primary concern ever since I started flying. I was following an eagle along another river through the trees and had a similar situation rounding the corner. Instinctively I hit the brakes and throttle and how I missed them is still a mystery!!!!! It was like they passed right through me. I consider it one of the miracles in my life...one of many.
You have done this more that ONCE!!!???!! So you are a BAD pilot who does not even learn from his mistakes? What is WRONG with you? One of many...I BELIEVE that! You should stop flying..Have you ever run out of fuel?
I once had the same thing happen to me, and considered it a miracle also, at the time I thought it was my guardian angel, now, I just consider it a miracle.
Not long. I have done so much work on that thing I have all my resources lined up so it only took two days. I made some structural changes to the trike too. It's stronger now.
No kidding. I've been hiking through the sort of valleys paramotorists love to fly, and had a pair of A-6s scream by me at about 300'. Had there been a paraglider there, there would have been no time for anybody to react.
I really wouldn’t have expected the power lines there either, and didn’t see the lines in the video till it was too late. I might have seen the poles early enough. The poles are always easier to see than the lines.
Wow!! Makes you feel like there’s no safe place to fly low. Who would have expected powerlines to be where they were and you couldn’t even see any of the vertical supports let alone power lines till they were in your face! As much fun as ground skimming is, I think it’s just too risky - best to stay high to play it safe. 😳😳
As soon as there's a house in view, those sneaky power lines are lurking. I just fly paragliders, so really only an issue when flying along mountain slopes (think haying cables in the Swiss Alps) and landing approaches. Flying low with a paramotor, this has to be rather an issue. 😬
![Megan Thee Stallion - Mamushi (Remix) [feat. TWICE] [Official Audio]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5c0_u9PsrsQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Power lines and you land in water and walk away, dude go buy a lottery ticket.
And on top of that - Weeelllll? Okey, there is power line....
Id get as many as I could swipe before the clerk could grab me....I mean your this lucky there's no way your getting arrested or shot at this point.
5:54 I think that laughs says enough lol. he realized how lucky he was
No point he already used up his luck...
Thanks for watching. Fixed the paramotor andI am flying again. It's a great sport!
when you were blowing water out of your nose, I thought, he isn't broken yet, but the lines were a complete surprise, and I was looking very hard because of the description. One of those setups. I watched tucker and a friend, flying a really curvy river and I was thinking, they might have the same problem, because it was new area to them both. Most times you can see the path of the poles, but then, and then!!!!
I thought you crashed in to high tension lines and still telling the tale...I am happy, you are safe 😇😇😇
Those power lines come out of nowhere! Glad yur ok! Were you looking somewhere else, or just not see them? How’s your vision?
Craig Harrison how far away were you from your LZ? How did you get everything back?
Looks like crocodile infected waters
I enjoyed the nasal view after the crash. I think more people should film from this perspective
"Nobody nose...the trouble I've seen..."
I just spent 7 minutes looking for power lines and I saw them the exact same time you did. Glad you came out relatively unscathed.
random place for a line
James Stinnette same!
I tried looking out for them as well. Nope same time as the crash.
@@jimtalltheislandbrothers6639 You never look for the lines, you would never be able to see of find them on time. I'm not a paraglider but am a skydiver, we are all taught to look for the towers or masts instead, specifically when high up the shadows they cast if the weather is sunny (yes when high up, even the towers aren't that easy to spot). When you're then lower you'd then have an idea where they are.
@@flybeep1661 agreed. As a viewer I was trying to see if I could spot it after the incident but no chance. I am trying to spot something in the comfort of my home and cannot imagine how tricky it is in real life for you guys/girls out there.
Congratulations you walked away from that! And thank you for posting! Why? Because this is a very educational video! Should be compulsory in every paramotor training. And now you are a much wiser pilot:-)
Nobody asked you why.
@@desertweasel6965 I did.
Well...older anyway! lol I had flown that area for a long time and had never seen those wires. So much for scoping.
I'm glad you're okay and I had to laugh at your reaction. You handled it pretty well!
+RuleofFive ditto! he was such a good sport about it. could've been sooo much worse but thankfully it wasn't.
RuleofFive not a laughing matter buddy!
TeezyThaKidd
Yeah he's pretty lucky......
Lighten up.
Good observation and I hadn't thought about this incident as part of the educational training. As careful as I am, and from above I was looking for lines, other than the large power lines a quarter of a mile away from the crash site, I could see none! I could hardly see them after crashing!! I guess the bottom line is never fly low until you have scouted out the area first hand!!
Try looking for power poles instead of the lines there easier to see
Even if you scout it, who is to say someone didn't come the next day and throw up a cable ? Anytime you fly low like that you are gambling with your life.
Glad your ok. That was a perfect storm condition - flying into the light, you and the height of the lines just right so as to camouflaged them perfectly into those distances hills - thanks for sharing you your experience, I am just about to start learning this spring and this is one of my greatest fears as I want to do just that style of flying, low and slow.... avoiding the lines of course.
Thanks for sharing you experience
Cheers, Patrick
Altitude is your friend. Most dangers lurk down low.
Glad you weren't hurt too bad, Craig. Good training video. The problem is the height, not how good the pilot is at seeing power cable poles. If you see them 99.9% of the time, which you wont, , it still isn't good enough. There will always be one cable, so flying at that height, it's just a matter of time before crashing into the first one. Flying along a river just 30 feet higher will reduce the danger enormously -then it's just the 40,000 volt high voltage lines to think about. Good luck, and thanks for posting this.
Wow, I didn't see the lines in the video either until the last possible second. I am so glad you are ok. It could have been much much worse!
It was a reminder to scope out an area very thoroughly prior to low flight!!
@Plant Based Piss off. Anyone makes mistakes, he got lucky. Who are you to say he shouldn't be flying. Fuck off with that comment.
I had been flying the area for over 6 years but never that low in exactly that spot. It never really crossed my mind! That's how it sneaks up on a person though...then it's too late.
The pole was hidden behind that grove... you're lucky to not only survive the fall, the water could have been deeper, OR... those lines could have arced and fried your ass! I bet you've told some good stories about this since... what doesn't kill us makes fodder for stories for the grandkids!
Well, ok there's powerlines! 😁😁
Craig Harrison How do you get home after a flight?
"Well, ok there's power lines." LOL! I love this guy.
almost died there and just laughed it off...beast mode
Paramotors are some of the lowest IQ attention seeking people around.
Knowing that you were going to fly into the power lines ahead of time, I still wasn't able to see the power lines or the posts on video until you were too late. That's tough. I'm glad you're OK.
Thanks for asking. Since I have re-designed and re-built the Flattop to accommodate my flying needs, the parts that were broken I was able to repair at minimal cost. I do like the basic design but it needed some serious adjustments. Happy flying!
Yes it could have been much different for sure! I am extremely careful around power lines...though you wouldn't know it by this video. As you look at it, try to see any lines! Plus, I was flying into the sun, so vis was a bit hampered. The pole on the right was behind the trees and the left one was clear out of the flood plane. I didn't see a connection...
Stop making excuses. Shouldn't have been flying low if you didn't know exactly what you would encounter in the area.
CAN U FLY A PARAMOTOR? TIM s ? WHATS YOUR EXCUSE??? ZERO SUBSCRIBERS
Nope guys Tim is correct. Never EVER fly below 50 feet any place you have not already reconnoitred at 200. TWICE! (or from the ground) Anybody who ploughs into a power-line (except during some other kind of emergency) at low altitude is at fault. There is no excuse. It's as bad as running out of fuel. Poor piloting due to NOT planning.
Only go low if it's a place you know. It's as simple as that.
dmonkface Yes that is exactly what I am saying. You want to either check the area from the ground (best way) or you want to fly over at an altitude that is CERTAINLY safe from transmission lines checking carefully as you go BOTH DIRECTIONS. Frankly I only fly "nap of the earth" in places where others are already doing it. You should realise that being what I call a "flying dirt biker" (skimming the ground) is actually quite dangerous. Note how Tucker Gott limits the amount of time he spends low to the ground. He DOES it because it's very fun but he knows the risks so he does a little ground skimming then goes back up for a little fun doing wingovers etc. which are much safer than ground skimming (once you are good and safe at it). In this way he has the fun of low flight but it is limited to only about 10% of his flying so his risk exposure is low. Smart kid. Look for the channel by "Tucker Gott" he doesn't try to teach paramotoring but he does talk about safety and he does a good job of showing you what it is really like to be a safe and sane paramotor pilot. The pilot that made this video is AT FAULT for this indecent, if he were a licensed pilot he would probably LOSE his license after the investigation was over.
*Action starts at **5:43*
thanks
Thanks. I was more saying to myself...'how careless/stupid'. I was happy it turned out as well as it did. Could have been a lot worse for sure! I usually am very careful when flying low. Those wires were almost impossible to see!
Those wires were hidden for sure. I kept pausing the video to see them and couldn't until you pointed them out. Glad you made it!
Thanks for sharing. This is a good reminder to have situational awareness when you fly Paramotor 😅
I’m looking forward to getting into the sport. I can’t wait! Glad you’re okay.
Crashing doesn't describe what happened with most of the 'downings'. The Vittorazi engine was a lemon. It ran hot, over 500 degrees even with all the carb adjustments, etc. Shrouds were just being invented for that engine and I was experimenting with what I could. But the bottom line was that every little thing led to an engine out. The spark plug blew out twice from soft aluminum. the carb fell apart several times. (Things that were not knowable during pre-flight.) You are right, big story behind every one of the non-scheduled landings...and yes, 2 or 3 could be considered crashes.
Prop strikes occur when the prop makes contact with anything, including the lines on your wing. When learning to fly (and I had no instruction with learning to fly a trike) lots of mistakes are made. What I didn't know is that one of those strikes started a hairline fracture in the aluminum engine mount. Then subsequent vibrations from the engine caused the fracture, that was invisible to the naked eye, to progress completely around the mount. When I was flying Dumont Dunes at about 50' with the wind, the mount completely failed. Everything fell off and of course the prop exploded. I went down hard!! But the design of the trike and cage was good and I was not injured badly.
Those are the things only experience teaches. It's a great sport.
2 important lessons learned here.....
1-when looking for power lines that are near invisible, look for the power poles, then trace back to the lines. Even though there's an orange ball on that line, ANY utility company knows that the main attraction in that area is the water and flying over it, they can hang orange streamers from the line over the water. It's common here in the cascades.
2- Just like hiking, scuba diving, 4 wheeling, etc. NEVER go alone, always have a buddy or someone with you. He could have easily been knocked unconscious and drown in that stream, or broke a leg or neck and can't move, who would even begin to know where to look for him out there in that desolate area. Vulture food...
But... Good job for the 3 point landing. As they say in pilot school "Any landing that you can Crawl away from is a good one!"😁👍🤣
check out saintgeorgeparamotor.com
At the very least, tell someone what you are doing, where you are doing it, and when you should return.
Just don't fly so damn low.
Thanks for sharing at the expense of your pride. Surley you knew all the Arm Chair pilots out there would be rattlingvtheir sticks at you as you uploaded, but you did anyways so we could all see and learn from this unfortunate event. Glad you walked away! Thanks again.
ruclips.net/video/KuTBBJBVeTg/видео.html
Wow, glad you walked away from that.
Pretty much how my first crash in a R22 happened 22 years ago. Low flying over a narrow riverbed, out of nowhere: power lines. Pulled up and over, hit it with my skids and tail and down I went, 50 ft into the river.
Always scout the locations before low flying.
It was an area I was very familiar with...but had never flown low enough to run into...I mean 'see' those tiny lines. Glad you survived as well. Have you welcomed many to our club?
check out saintgeorgeparamotor.com
Hit powerlines in the middle of a desert...
Dear oh dear oh dear....
Straight out of Men Who Stare at Goats
And landed in water!
Thanks for sharing. Glad you're not hurt!
Thanks a lot for posting this. I just ordered a Flat Top and I go to training next month. I'm really looking forward to this sport but I have concerns about hazards like this. I watched the footage several times over and never saw those lines coming either. Very good lesson I'll take to heart. Videos like this help us newcomers be a little more prepared as we begin learning this sport. Thanks again.
Glad it helped. Good luck with the training...and Dell.
Thank you. I hope it's a good experience.
Well, 6 years ago when I trained with Dell, I was so excited and focused on flying he could have done just about anything and I wouldn't have known any difference. I wanted the safest system available and he sold me on that. Having a few 'incidences' and seeing some friends with Flattops have incidences, there is value in the design. However, I have had to re-design/re-build just about everything, but keeping that basic design. On my third flight the exhaust mounts came apart and it blew into the prop on launch. Pow! Parts all over! He did stand behind that and replaced the parts. But what I didn't know is the Vittorazi Classic (which was new at the time) was a very flawed engine. I would avoid buying that engine, 5 years of problems!!! (I have since purchased the Vittorazi Plus and really like it.) Of course, Dell tries to put blame on the pilot rather than where it belonged, but that is his M.O. There of course is a lot of pilot error for sure though.
You can search him on google and youtube to see how he deals with people. I purchased the whole system from him with an XL K-2 wing. When I drove 300+ miles to pick it up, he said he sold my wing to someone else... I was not a happy camper. The list of things is way too long to detail.
His training is okay if you can get his attention focused on you and not on himself. It is the most expensive for sure. He is always hyping/promoting/selling. I don't know where he is doing his training. The last I knew it was Galveston...They haven't kicked him out of Texas yet like: Oregon, California, Mexico and I think Washington.
Most of the guys I fly with liked other training options and are doing great.
Any way, If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. I try to not condemn Dell, but his perception of 'reality' is very unique so prepare yourself if you continue.
Where do you live and how old are you?
Craig Harrison hey Craig stuff happens... I have been reading the comments and I see you find opportunity to learn from all things.
I fly Flat Top Ninja with and without a Trike. GIN Sprint 29L & DUDEK Nucleon WRC 34. Metro Phoenix, lets fly sometime
+Michael Beck (OQTIVE) yes for sure. I just landed got back from a flight this morning around this beautiful Valley it's fantastic.
Always reconnoiter the area before low level flight. And keep in mind an area you flew previously may have new lines put up since your last flight. Glad you were ok!
Similar has happened to me although I was able to dodge the lines. I had flown the area a year previously and in that time some small telephone lines had been put up...definitely a learning lesson.
ruclips.net/video/KuTBBJBVeTg/видео.html
Channing here on the wife's computer...glad you didn't get killed. I suppose it would be a great training video to discuss with fellow pilots. I understand the thrill flying low, James Allred posted his near miss with power lines sometime back and the video of a guy cruising low over a river in N.C. striking a suspension line ending up in the water.
I suppose my take is when cruising in the basement...and you see homes / shops and or small building near by...there is a good chance they are getting power from electrical lines. You made a modification to your cage on the Flat Top, was that to protect your suspension lines from the prop?
Start Safe, Stay Safe...
Thanks Jake. Went back up for the first time yesterday. Had lots of work to do on the trike, frame and wing. Good to be back!!
Wow, those came out of nowhere, glad you made it through ok!
Thanks. I guess that's why I laughed...it could have been much worse! Let's go flying!!!
Craig Harrison: Yes, it could have been much worse. When I lived on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, a crop duster who flew from this airstrip every day came in a little lower than usual and clipped a power line. The plane flipped and the pilot was killed. I'm very glad your outcome was just a little damage to your rig.
An old friend of mine wasn't so lucky. Glad you made it okay. Planes can, generally, be fixed.
Sorry to hear that about your friend. Having an incredible experience with an out of body death experience when I crashed my motocross bike and broke my neck, I learned if your number is up you are out of here. If not...well, it looks like luck.
wow, I had to go back to the crash scene and pause the video and then look frame by frame for those power lines. They are almost totally invisible. Glad to see you were ok and are back to flying. May all your crashes end up this good. = ) Yeh, I know video is 4 years old,. : (
Glad you were ok and your machine was repaired. I plan to fly all my routes at a little safer altitude, maybe 100ft and scout out any potential problems like this before going down on the deck. I know it takes some of the adventure out of it.. Thanks for sharing and helping us all learn from it. Of course, Hindsight is always 20/20!!!
I make it a point to fly above tree tops exspecially when flying low over rivers ,roads in my trike! You just cannot see the lines . Great ed video . Glad you care enough about your fellow pilots to post it .
ruclips.net/video/KuTBBJBVeTg/видео.html
Hey, it's not that bad! If you'd have hit the power lines with your body instead of just your lines or wing, it is unlikely to survive. And, your lines and wing didn't even stay caught in the power lines! Was your equipment relatively OK afterwards? This has always been a fear of mine- hitting power lines. I've even had bad dreams of trying to avoid power lines while flying lol.
THE MOTOR IS UPRIGHT.. AND YOU ARE WALKING.. BRAVO!
Oh man you are so lucky. I don't think anyone can blame you for not seeing them because they blended right in. Glad you're ok. I think I'm going ponder long and hard whether to take this up or not because I'm not spring chicken anymore.
I didn't start flying until I was 63. Let's go flying!
ruclips.net/video/KuTBBJBVeTg/видео.html
I'm glad you survived! There's a teachable moment here for all of us.
ruclips.net/video/KuTBBJBVeTg/видео.html
Wow, those power lines were barely visible! Glad you survived it!
I've heard Tucker say those things can be invsible in certain light and certain angles. I BELIEVE him now, I NEVER saw those before you hit them. Thanks for posting. Scary as HELL! That will sure keep ME on MY toes, when I get up there to join you guys. Glad it was no more painful than it was (I'm pretty sure it hurt like hell).
It really was not bad. My trike and cage saved me. A bolt vibrated loose on my silencer 2 weeks ago (that I should have checked) and it fell off striking my prop! Another rough emergency landing in the boonies! The trike saved me again.
@@paramotorman1 Good to hear. It LOOKED bad. Glad it wasn't. I'm probably going trike...you are increasing the lean in that direction, heavily, with those comments.
I've seen PPM guys in other videos say look for poles, not lines, much more visible, not that I know anything, just what I've seen, and appears to make sense.
@@MrJdsenior After 7 years of modifying this trike I decided to design and fabricate my own brand. Just doing the final touches and soon I will have one to put out there. Fingers crossed.
@@paramotorman1 VERY COOL, I will keep a watch.
Just wondering if you created a phase to phase short. Should have been very loud if you did. Local breaker would have de-energized until the reclosure attempted to re-energize, which would have been fine assuming you didn't twist the lines.
As we looked closer at the lines the best we could surmise is they are communication lines rather than power lines..
In seaplane flying you always do a high level recon of the area before flying it low altitude
Wow, that was quite some fall! You are really lucky you landed in a soft stream and not on tough ground. The outcome could have been very different. Glad to see you weren't harmed. :)
Unfortunately people who keep posting these ppg crash accident videos catches unwanted attention from the FAA and will only result in unwanted additional regulations and restrictions, It's already happening if you've been paying attention.
Thanks for sharing. Glad one of your lines didn’t short that current through you in the river.
You got to walk away and fly another day, enough said... :)
You walked away! That's what matters. Thanks for sharing.
Yeah, those came up so fast ... crazy. How do you get home and come back to get all the equipment? Nice video, thanks for posting.
nice clear footage with good colour, contrast, etc. what camera were you using?
That was the GoPro Hero 4 Session
Hero 4
Everyone sees that you are well, what remains is to happy our sports without risk of our lives,Panos from Greece
You're not hurt and this could have been MUCH worse. Good job making the best of it👍
Thanks Gizz. What is interesting is that in 6 years I have had 38 emergency landings. Must be a world record! Everything from running out of gas to my entire engine mount coming apart and exploding off my frame while 50 feet in the air at Dumont Sand Dunes. There is a story behind each one of them...but like the fantastic flight this morning, it's worth it!!!
Maybe you couldn't have avoided the exploding engine mount, but if you're having that many emergencies, maybe you should reconsider the way you fly. Of course there's a story behind each one of them, but did you learn something from each one? Like, you know, how not to do the same thing again? Man, if there are 38 different ways to crash, maybe it's not such a safe sport. But if you're making the same mistakes over and over, it's only a matter of time before your luck runs out.
Wow!!! Thats crazy!! 38 in 6yrs.
I can understand running out of gas in a 2 stroke dirt bike. But running out 5k feet in the air?
Thanks for watching. I love this sport for sure.
Im not sure what was more funny the fact that you chuckled first then said well... lmao haha glad you were safe.
I knew they were coming so I was watching to see if I could identify them before you did....nope. Totally invisible until you reacted to them. This is an awesome lesson about power lines. Never assume you will see them in time, or there will be visible poles to help you see them. Overfly the area first to ensure it is safe. Glad you are good and flying again. I wish power companies would put small markers on power lines across areas like this where they might not be visible to aircraft or even tall trucks and construction equipment.
Your lucky to be alive dude, I'm glad you're ok
Wow those things were almost invisible, at least in the video. Scary!
Nice to see a man who refuses to see any side but the positive side.
Thank you Ken.They say it takes one to recognize one...
When you see a house all by itself, you gotta ask yourself where the power is coming from. If you don’t know, climb and look. Very happy you made it out uninjured. This is my biggest fear as I get into this sport. I’m getting the same gear as you. Hope you are still flying.
nice. you handled that a LOT better than I would have. good lesson.
After crash reaction = Priceless.
Yikes! glad you weren't seriously hurt! I'm always paranoid about power lines and if I even see poles I rise up until I can spot the lines... but these look like they were really hard to spot... Will remember this as a lesson in my future flying.
Just don't fly so low. Thats it.
Good video. Thanks for sharing. Very useful for others to learn.
Death stands near the entrance of delight !!!!
Great video. Thanks for sharing!!
I literally did the exact same thing a year or so ago. I luckily saw the lines a little earlier than you did but had no choice but to try and go under. I cleared them but was too low and hit the ground and landed in a river about the same size but was full of water. I spent what felt like over an hour in freezing water trying to save my ppc. The water filled my shoot and was dragging it down stream. I finally got it to stop and it was nothing short of a miracle that I got the water out of the shoot and up out of the water.
Soul mates? Blood brothers! Thanks for sharing.
Craig Harrison where was it at? It looks like hurricane maybe??
@@michaelbartlett1589 Just south of Hurricane. Washington dam by Werner Valley. We were headed to Sand Hollow.
Craig Harrison gotcha. I was in mesquite
Didn't see them at all. Glad you took it with such good heart
I worked for a Power Co. for Years and I Always thought that power Lines should be Flagged like they do at Crop Dusting Air Strips....
Omg so glad you were not hurt
Glad this didn't turn out to be a shocking experience! Sooo... how did you get out of there?
ruclips.net/video/KuTBBJBVeTg/видео.html
Had a run-in with powerlines myself once... those bastards BITE! You did well. I copped a 240V spanking for my troubles.
Were they really power lines ... or were they paraglider traps? How did you get back home?
I waited for Ben to land and bring the truck into the area. We then carried it out to the road. May a quarter of a mile. Not bad considering...
Was this essentially due to no scouting the route before flying it?
In the future they really need to start putting little high visibility flags every few meters on power lines so any aircraft that need to have emergency landings can see power lines relatively easily.
Retz yeah I’m sure they’ll put little flags on all power lines. Do you even realize how logistically impossible that would be
@@Rayray-zu1hd
At least for new lines it's a piece of cake. Just include that in the production process and you're good.
Matthias Joppien that’s a dumbass thing to say
That's right behind my house in Coral Canyon! Are you guys local pilots?
Yes. We usually launch out of the St. James Park in SG. Let's go flying!
The whole sky you had...
I know...right. But what lessons could be learned there??
Craig Harrison I'm not trying to be a jerk, but just fly above 30-40 feet
@@bennanoman Then you'd miss out on the thrill of doing a 'foot drag'. Check it out.
ruclips.net/video/KuTBBJBVeTg/видео.html
I was told there were power lines. I watched for power lines. I saw the power lines after the pilot was halfway crashing to the water. Well, I'm glad to see it was a chuckling walk-away.
Easily avoidable. The posts could be seen. You always need to assume they are attached to something. Do a higher pass to check an area before a low pass.
ruclips.net/video/KuTBBJBVeTg/видео.html
First of all, I'm glad you weren't hurt by this. Just wondering how much in $ damage did this crash cost you?
Bob Diaz mind your own business buddy!
Derrick Haze Who the hell are you to tell me what I should or shouldn't do. Maybe you should follow your own advice and mind YOUR own business rather that go around bossing others.
Bob Diaz keep your opinions to yourself buddy!
I see, it's OK for YOU to tell me what to do, but I can't tell you what to do. A bit hypercritical there.
Bob Diaz no need for name calling, bit rude...
I nearly flew into power lines in my ultralight- I passed about 5-10 feet above the wires and didn't see them until I went over them. This happened over 30 years ago and I still have nightmares about it. I was distracted and focusing my attention on something on the ground- I failed to maintain situational awareness. I also descended below wire height in an unknown area. Two big mistakes that nearly killed me. Hopefully someone will read this and learn from my blunder. Happy flying and be careful!
Yes, it has been my primary concern ever since I started flying. I was
following an eagle along another river through the trees and had a similar
situation rounding the corner. Instinctively I hit the brakes and throttle
and how I missed them is still a mystery!!!!! It was like they passed right
through me. I consider it one of the miracles in my life...one of many.
You have done this more that ONCE!!!???!! So you are a BAD pilot who does not even learn from his mistakes? What is WRONG with you? One of many...I BELIEVE that! You should stop flying..Have you ever run out of fuel?
I once had the same thing happen to me, and considered it a miracle also, at the time I thought it was my guardian angel, now, I just consider it a miracle.
Power lines suck thankfully I live in a neighborhood with none glad ur ok
That initial Dr. Evil muhahaha was priceless.
Not long. I have done so much work on that thing I have all my resources lined up so it only took two days. I made some structural changes to the trike too. It's stronger now.
Thanks for watching. You may also enjoy this one...no crashes but cool new wing & music.
ruclips.net/video/d5OH--kmAcI/видео.html
Haha, love your reaction! Glad you're ok.
Luckily you can detach the sail and turn it into a fan-powered go-kart..
That was a cool,,impression of a bird strike, but how did the the bird hit from behind? There have always been in front of the craft..
I never had this problem, always stayed 600-1000 feet. Just watch for the F-18's. Lol.
No kidding. I've been hiking through the sort of valleys paramotorists love to fly, and had a pair of A-6s scream by me at about 300'. Had there been a paraglider there, there would have been no time for anybody to react.
we have had navy here, flying up the columbia river, hit power lines. those big thick lines, and they ended up in the river in pieces.
Damn Ben, that will wreck your day.... I can't believe they were there.
I can. They could be anywhere !
another eager contestant, previewing the skills, that will undoubtedly qualify if for a "Darwin Award" in the not too distant future.
I can even read chimpanzee. Thanks...See ya there at the awards table.
Flying extremely low may be fun, but has got its dangers.
ruclips.net/video/KuTBBJBVeTg/видео.html
I really wouldn’t have expected the power lines there either, and didn’t see the lines in the video till it was too late. I might have seen the poles early enough. The poles are always easier to see than the lines.
Wow!! Makes you feel like there’s no safe place to fly low. Who would have expected powerlines to be where they were and you couldn’t even see any of the vertical supports let alone power lines till they were in your face! As much fun as ground skimming is, I think it’s just too risky - best to stay high to play it safe. 😳😳
Lucky you didn't short between the lines I bet those are about 69k volts
In all my years of flying ultralights, I always looked for power line poles, not the wires as they are to hard to see until it's too late.
LOL! I love that you laughed when you hit the Ground! Priceless haha Glad you're okay.
Thank you.
Lol, that made me flinch and jump. Wasn't even close to them yet.
Or did he actually hit some. I didn't see them, only the line and power poles off to right.
Are you from southern Utah by any chance?
ruclips.net/video/KuTBBJBVeTg/видео.html
You walked away. A good day.
As soon as there's a house in view, those sneaky power lines are lurking. I just fly paragliders, so really only an issue when flying along mountain slopes (think haying cables in the Swiss Alps) and landing approaches.
Flying low with a paramotor, this has to be rather an issue. 😬