What happened
On May 20, 2018, during a precision landing competition, a skydiver exited a W-3 helicopter at an altitude of 1,000 meters. The jump proceeded normally until the final descent. The landing was intended to be performed into the wind, which was blowing at a speed of 6 m/s. However, as the skydiver approached the ground, they failed to level the parachute in time. This resulted in a heavy impact with the legs against the terrain.
The skydiver was transported to a hospital, where medical staff diagnosed a serious injury consisting of a fracture of the left lower leg involving the ankle and tibia, accompanied by a dislocation of the tibio-talar joint.
The investigation
The investigation examined the circumstances of the landing at the Nowy Glinnik (EPTM) airfield. The inquiry focused on the skydiver's maneuvers during the final phase of the descent, the equipment used, and the environmental conditions at the landing site.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the skydiver's error in estimating the altitude required to level the parachute before impact.
- Several contributing factors were identified, including the use of inappropriate footwear by the skydiver.
- The weight attached to the parachute exceeded the maximum suspension mass specified by the manufacturer.
- A lack of particular caution was noted, likely due to resuming jumps following a winter break.
- The landing surface itself was uneven.