What happened
On May 16, 2015, an experienced skydiver, acting as an Accelerated Freefall (AFF) instructor, was performing a jump at the Chrcynno landing field (EPNC). At an altitude of approximately 1,000 meters, the individual deployed the main parachute; however, the canopy immediately entered a deep spin. Following emergency procedures, the instructor manually released the main canopy and deployed the reserve parachute. The individual landed on the operational area of the landing field, but the incident resulted in one fatality.
The investigation
The investigation examined the equipment and the deployment sequence. Investigators confirmed that the control handles were correctly positioned and that the slider was located above the suspension lines. While the investigation reviewed the equipment used by the private user, the specific aircraft registration was not applicable to this incident as it involved a parachute jump.
Findings
The investigation was unable to determine the specific cause of the main canopy's malfunction. However, the jump organizer noted several contributing factors that can lead to similar deployment issues, including uneven line weaves into the rubber rings, improper condition or sizing of the rubber rings, asymmetrical tensioning of the harness leg loops, and an asymmetrical body position during the deployment process.