Accidents and injuries related to powered paragliding: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

ObjectivesPowered paragliding (PPG) and paragliding are two totally different sports, mainly because of the use of an engine in powered paragliding. As a consequence, the pattern of injuries caused by each of these two sports may be different.SettingTo test this hypothesis, we analysed 384 incident reports gathered by the US Powered Paragliding Association from 1995 to 2012. The majority of the incidents occurred in the USA, while 26 incidents occurred elsewhere: Canada (8), Mexico (5), Panama (1), China (1), Japan (1), Malaysia (1), Indonesia (Java) (1), Europe (8): of which Spain (1), Belgium (1), UK (3), Italy (1), Romania (1), unknown (1).OutcomeTo identify the most affected body area and the most common type of injury sustained in PPG, and to highlight any differences from paragliding.ResultsThe most affected body areas in PPG were the upper limbs (44.5%), followed by the lower limbs (32%), the back (9.8%), the head (7%), the pelvis (3.1), the chest (2.7%) and the abdomen (0.7%) (p<0.001). The engine caused 43 accidents (11.2%) in our study and was responsible for the majority of injuries to the upper limbs. The number of fatal accidents in PPG is not lower than in paragliding and hang-gliding.ConclusionsTo help prevent the specific injuries of PPG, the most appropriate equipment should be identified. The results of this study also suggest that, in the future, this sport should be analysed separately from paragliding.

Incidents and Injuries in Foot-Launched Flying Extreme Sports

“…Previous studies reported that fatality outcomes accounted for 3.5% 11 of hang gliding incidents and between 0.69% and 6.1% (0.69% 28 , 0.9% 18 , 1.16% 30 and 6.1% 32 ) of paragliding incidents. In the two motorized sports, the fatality rate and the percentage of incidents resulting in fatalities (Table 2) are higher than in in-motorized hang gliding and paragliding; this possibly results from the higher impact energy due to the engine thrust and equipment weight which may aggravate the dynamics of trauma 8 . Injuries in powered paragliding and powered hang gliding are less common but more severe than paragliding and hang gliding.…”

“…However, in powered paragliding the upper limbs, in particular wrists and hands, were more frequently injured. This may be due to the position of the engine (see also https://www.bhpa.co.uk/sport/power/paramotor/ 4 ), which potentially exposes the upper limbs to a risk of propeller contact 8 . The difference between powered hang gliding and powered paragliding might be explained by the fact that the propeller in powered hang gliding is installed on the bottom of the frame, far from the pilot body (See also https://www.bhpa.co.uk/sport/power/powered_hang_glider/ 4 ).…”

“…Results from this study suggest support for general safety approaches that could be recommended. In particular, the use of protective gloves, in order to protect the hands against injuries in hang gliding and powered hang gliding and the use of a protective shroud (safety ring) to the engine cage for reducing severe injuries (such as the amputation of the fingers 8 ).…”

“…In addition, medical literature usually groups these sports together as if they are the same activity. However, due to the different flight forms and mechanisms, equipment and performance conditions, it is possible that each of these activities presents different challenges and injury patterns 8 . What is clear from recent research is that foot launched flying extreme sports present incident and injury patterns which are not comparable to those associated with more popular sports such as soccer, golf or basketball or even air traffic incidents 5,9,17 .…”

Characteristics of injuries caused by paragliding accidents: A cross-sectional study

“…[3] The most catastrophic injuries of the pilots were fractures (42.9%-89%). [3,13,14] These fractures occurred mostly at the lower extremities (29%-56%) especially around the ankle. [2,4,9] In our study, a lower extremity fracture rate was 39.8% (n=43), which was consistent with that reported in the literature.…”