What happened
On June 18, 2017, a tandem skydiver was performing a jump with a passenger from an altitude of 3,000 meters near Pruszcz Gdański (EPPR). The descent proceeded normally until the main parachute began to deploy at approximately 1,700 meters. During the opening sequence, the slider became stuck halfway down the lines, causing the canopy to partially inflate. This malfunction resulted in the lines passing over one-third of the canopy's width, creating a "cauliflower" effect and inducing line twists in the suspension lines.
As the Hop 330 main parachute began to dive, the skydiver executed emergency procedures by deploying the reserve parachute. The reserve parachute inflated at an altitude of approximately 1,200 meters. The descent under the reserve canopy was stable and unobstructed, allowing the crew to land at the intended location without further incident.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the operator, focused on the deployment mechanics of the tandem system. The analysis was performed in the presence of the entire packing crew to evaluate the deployment sequence. The investigation included a demonstration of the tandem equipment setup, specifically examining the distribution of the lines in relation to the leading edge of the main canopy to identify potential packing errors.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the lines passing over the canopy surface, which created the cauliflower-shaped deformation of the main parachute.
- The slider's failure to move freely through the lines contributed to the partial inflation and subsequent line twists.