What happened
On July 12, 2015, a skydiver with 351 previous jumps performed a mission from an altitude of 4,000 meters. At approximately 900 meters above the ground, the individual deployed the Silhouette 170 parachute. Upon deployment, the skydiver observed that the lines had become twisted, a condition often referred to as a "twist."
Following an attempt to untwist the lines, it was determined that the front and rear suspension lines, as well as the connecting lines, remained intertwined on both sides. Although the canopy had inflated correctly and the slider had moved to the top of the suspension lines, the malfunction prevented a safe descent under the main canopy. The skydiver subsequently initiated emergency procedures, jettisoning the main parachute and deploying the reserve parachute. The landing took place at the Chrcynno (EPNC) landing field, and the skydiver sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the deployment sequence and the configuration of the parachute prior to the jump. Investigators examined the state of the lines and the canopy inflation process. The analysis established that the malfunction originated during the packing process, specifically during the stage when the deployment bag was being placed into the container. It was determined that an error likely occurred where the lines were improperly routed, potentially creating a "salta" (a loop or twist) between the suspension lines.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was an error made during the parachute packing process.
- The investigation suggests the error likely occurred when placing the deployment bag into the container, leading to improper line orientation.