What happened
On July 5, 2015, a student skydiver, who had completed 15 previous jumps, was performing a training jump from an altitude of 1,200 meters at the Radawiec (EPLR) airfield. This was the student's second jump of the day, involving an SL-2 training task. While the student successfully separated from the aircraft, they adopted an incorrect body position during the deployment process by keeping both arms pressed against the sides of the torso. This posture caused the student's body to tilt sharply into a head-down position.
During the deployment sequence, it is believed that the canopy casing rubbed against the student's legs. This interaction caused the lines to become entangled, resulting in a "bag lock" where the main parachute failed to exit the deployment bag. The student managed to manually release the main parachute and deploy the reserve parachute, which fully inflated at approximately 900 meters. The student subsequently completed a safe landing at the airfield.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the deployment of the PD Student 280 parachute. The inquiry examined the student's physical orientation at the moment of deployment and the mechanical interaction between the parachute equipment and the student's limbs. The investigation established that the malfunction was a direct result of the student's physical posture and its effect on the deployment bag.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the adoption of an incorrect body posture during the parachute opening process.
- The student's head-down orientation, caused by keeping arms at the sides, led to the parachute lines tangling with the student's legs.
- This entanglement prevented the main canopy from exiting the deployment bag (bag lock).
Safety action
Following the incident, the training organizer reviewed the event with all skydivers in the group. The session focused on reinforcing the necessity of maintaining a proper body position during deployment and reviewing emergency procedures for similar malfunctions.