Shane, what's the "brakes" you keep referring to in the written video narrative?
"still didn't apply added pressure on the brakes for departure. Got nervous when storing the brakes to get in the seat"
Brakes are the lines that go to the trailing edge of the wing and the only ones that have dedicated "handles". You'll see me holding one handle in each hand. The line from the handle (Brake), spreads out to several lines that attach to the trailing edge of the wing from one end to the other. you can think of Powered Paragliding Brakes as (loosely) flaps on a fixed wing aircraft. When I start my departure run in a PPG, after I feel the wing producing lift and just before it lifts me off the ground, I add a little bit more pressure to the brakes which increases the lift and the whole kit climbs higher. Too much brake does just what it's called, and slows the wing down causing a decrease in lift, and a descent begins. When landing, just before flying (or gliding) into the ground, you slowly pull the brake handles down just below shoulder height and continue the downward trend on the brakes by pushing the brakes all the way down as far as your arms will stretch out. This causes a flare during the last few feet (lets call it the last 10 feet of altitude). When done right (start at correct altitude agl, into the wind, etc), the will stop your forward momentum, descent, and flight all at the same time and you'll merely take a step foreward as if walking down a single stair.
You also use brakes to turn similar to flying fixed wing. If you want to turn left, you pull left brake to "bend" the trialing edge of the left side of the wing down and slow the forward progress. The right side of the wing is still moving the same speed as before and therefore turns left. Same goes (but opposite) for right turns. This is a really simplified description of the use of the brakes but hopefully you'll get the just of what I think I'm saying
I haven't got pefect landing proficeincy yet, although I have landed several times now on my feet and stayed there.
YouTube will do a much better job than I on describing the use of brakes on a PPG or PG. I truly love this new (to me) form of flight. It's amazing how different it is. I figured with 1300 hours and change flying fixed wing, I'd be used to the perspective, but it's not even close. Wind blowing by, whine of a 2 stroke, slow climbs and micro meteorology. It's really fun, honestly.
The collapse that you asked about must have been sheer or starting an intentional full stall too close to the ground. That is way beyond my capability right now so I think I'd do the situation injustice by speculating. If it was inentional (and many times they are but at higher altitudes), the pilot just made a bad decision to start it at the chosen altitude. I'd want 8 or 9 thousand feet below me to do that at this point.
