What happened
On August 30, 2015, a student skydiver performing a training jump departed from an An-2 aircraft at the Pruszcz Gdański (EPPR) airfield. The jump was intended to be a deployment with an automatic activation device. Upon exiting the aircraft at an altitude of 1,200 meters, the separation technique was performed incorrectly, resulting in the skydiver moving perpendicularly to the aircraft's flight path.
During the deployment process, the skydiver began rotating, causing the right-side suspension lines to momentarily pass under the reserve canopy. As the canopy partially inflated, a significant malfunction known as a "cauliflower" (line entanglement) was observed over the fourth cell from the right side of the canopy. The student attempted to correct the entanglement using manual control inputs for approximately three seconds. When the parachute began to spin, the student decided to cut away the main canopy and deploy the reserve parachute. The reserve canopy inflated correctly, allowing the student to land safely on the usable portion of the airfield.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the training organizer, focused on the deployment sequence and the state of the equipment. The analysis examined the physical deployment of the canopy and the subsequent maneuvers performed by the student to rectify the malfunction.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was an error made during the parachute packing process.
- This error was attributed to the packer working in haste during the preparation of the equipment.
Safety action
Following the incident, the training organizer reviewed the event with the student, instructors, and parachute packers. The organizers implemented instructions for increased care during the packing process, specifically emphasizing the need for heightened attention when using the pro-pack method for large canopies, particularly during the trailing edge wrapping stage.