What happened
On June 6, 2015, an experienced skydiver, who had completed 1,514 jumps previously, was performing an accuracy jump from an altitude of 1,500 meters near Radawiec. The descent proceeded normally until the skydiver initiated the deployment of the main Sabre 150 parachute at approximately 1,000 meters.
Immediately after the canopy inflated, a significant line twist occurred. The skydiver attempted to rectify the rotation, but the spinning motion intensified. Following standard emergency procedures, the skydiver manually released the main canopy and deployed the reserve parachute. The descent concluded with a safe landing in a field near the airfield.
The investigation
Following the incident, an inspection of the Sabre 150 parachute was conducted. The investigation focused on the deployment sequence and the mechanical state of the parachute components to determine why the lines twisted so severely upon inflation.
Findings
- The investigation established that the improper condition of the rubber rings used for braiding the main parachute lines was the primary cause of the malfunction.
- Specifically, the rubber rings within the deployment bag/canopy cover were too loose, which led to the irregular deployment and subsequent line twists.