Improper reserve parachute maintenance identified during equipment check

Casualties unknown • Pruszcz Gdański (EPPR), PL

A serious incident involving a malfunctioning reserve parachute deployment system was discovered during a routine equipment inspection at the Warmia-Mazury Aero Club.

What happened

On June 20, 2015, during a routine verification of documents and equipment at the Warmia-Mazury Aero Club, an instructor identified a critical malfunction in a private skydiver's equipment. The equipment in question was a Javelin Odyssey parachute container/harness system.

Upon lifting the closing flap that secures the reserve parachute pin, the instructor discovered that the metal release cable for the reserve parachute was not connected to the pin passing through the closing loop. Instead, the pin was only connected to the Reserve Static Line (RSL) system and had been sealed by a parachute mechanic. Furthermore, the RSL system's carabiner was not attached to the attachment ring on the harness webbing; it had been tucked entirely underneath the reserve parachute straps.

Between the date of the faulty maintenance on March 27, 2015, and the discovery of the error, the equipment had been used for approximately 10 to 20 jumps by the owner and another skydiver. No injuries were reported during this period, as the malfunction was only detected during a pre-jump inspection by the instructor.

Probable cause

The primary cause was improper technical maintenance of the reserve parachute deployment system, compounded by the users' failure to conduct adequate pre-jump inspections that would have revealed the disconnected release cable.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2015-03-27 Javelin Oddysey accident near Pruszcz Gdański (EPPR), PL?

A serious incident involving a malfunctioning reserve parachute deployment system was discovered during a routine equipment inspection at the Warmia-Mazury Aero Club.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2015-03-27 involved a Javelin Oddysey, at Pruszcz Gdański (EPPR), PL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The primary cause was improper technical maintenance of the reserve parachute deployment system, compounded by the users' failure to conduct adequate pre-jump inspections that would have revealed the disconnected release cable.

Investigation report by the Polish State Commission on Aircraft Accidents Investigation (PKBWL). Original record: https://pkbwl.gov.pl/raporty/2015-1090/. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the Panstwowa Komisja Badania Wypadkow Lotniczych (PKBWL), Poland.

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