What happened
On May 16, 2015, a tandem skydive occurred at the Nowy Targ (EPNT) aerodrome involving a Stealth 340 tandem parachute system. Following a previous jump, the skydiver prepared for a subsequent jump with a passenger. After ascending to 4,000 meters in a Cessna 206, the tandem pair exited the aircraft using the "tail" technique.
During the descent, the skydiver's extended left arm, used for filming, caused the pair to fall on their right side. At approximately 5 seconds into the jump, the skydiver deployed the drogue parachute. The resulting tension caused the main parachute container to open prematurely, releasing the main canopy. As the skydiver performed maneuvers, the loose canopy began to move across their back.
At approximately 37 seconds, the skydiver attempted to release the main canopy by unpinning the closing pins. However, the main canopy failed to separate from the system because it had become entangled with the drogue chute, creating a "horseshoe" configuration. At 46 seconds, the skydable attempted to manually disconnect the lines, but the drogue system remained entangled. At 58 seconds, the skydiver deployed the reserve parachute. Although the reserve initially wrapped around the main parachute components, it eventually opened fully, allowing for a controlled landing at the airfield.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the equipment and conducted an experiment to replicate the malfunction. The investigation focused on the specialized closing system of the SPIRIT tandem parachute, which uses a cable and channel system to automate the opening of the main canopy compartment upon drogue deployment.
Testing revealed that if the cable is inserted into the channel from the wrong direction, the tension from the drogue parachute can pull the cable through the closing loop, causing the container to open immediately upon deployment. The investigation also reviewed the skydiver's pre-jump checks and the packing process performed by the rigger.
Findings
- Improper packing of the main parachute container, likely involving the incorrect insertion of the closing cable, which caused the premature release of the main canopy.
- Failure of the skydiver to perform a thorough pre-jump inspection of the equipment, potentially due to haste.
- Excessive haste during the preparation for the subsequent jump, driven by the commercial pressure to maximize the number of jumps.
- The use of a helmet-mounted camera was noted as a contributing risk factor for line entanglement, consistent with previous safety findings.