What happened
On May 5, 2018, during a skydiving operation at Gliwice (EPGL), a group of skydivers was performing formation jumps from an altitude of 4,000 meters. As the aircraft passed over the drop zone, the skydiver exited the aircraft onto the step. While moving backward on the step to create space for other members of the formation to exit, the skydiver's pilot chute became caught on the aircraft door.
This snagging action caused the pilot chute to extend, initiating the deployment process of the main parachute while the skydiver was still in close proximity to the aircraft. Although neither the pilot chute nor the parachute pack became entangled with the aircraft, the force of the opening parachute pulled the skydiver away from the plane. During this separation, the skydiver's leg struck the leading edge of the stabilizer, resulting in structural damage to the component between the frames.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the operator, focused on the sequence of events during the exit process and the physical interaction between the parachute equipment and the aircraft structure. The inquiry established the exact movement of the skydiver on the aircraft step and the subsequent impact with the stabilizer.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the pilot chute snagging on the aircraft door during the exit procedure.
- The deployment of the main parachute while near the aircraft led to the skydiver being pulled away from the plane.
- The kinetic energy of the opening parachute caused the skydiver's leg to strike the aircraft's stabilizer, causing damage.