Incident Overview
A Cessna 182 aircraft, configured as a platform for skydiving operations, sustained substantial damage during a skydiving flight. The commercial pilot reported that a skydiver's reserve parachute inadvertently deployed while the skydiver was positioning himself on the step prior to exiting the aircraft.
Parachute Entanglement
The deployed reserve parachute became entangled around the airplane's right horizontal stabilizer. The entanglement bent the outboard section of both the stabilizer and elevator downward.
Actions Taken
The skydiver managed to release the parachute from the aircraft. Upon landing, the skydiver received serious injuries. The pilot instructed the remaining skydivers on board to exit the aircraft, which they did, landing safely. The pilot subsequently landed the airplane without further incident.
Damage Assessment
The aircraft's right horizontal stabilizer and elevator sustained bending damage to their outboard sections. The damage is described as substantial.