What happened
On June 16, 2018, a skydiver with 198 previous jumps was performing a descent from an altitude of 4,000 meters. The initial exit from the aircraft and the period of freefall proceeded without incident. However, at approximately 1,200 meters, the skydiver initiated the deployment of the main parachute. During this deployment, the lines of the Spadochron Pilot 150 became twisted, causing the parachute to enter a spinning motion.
To rectify the situation, the skydiver manually released the main parachute and deployed the reserve parachute. The descent concluded with a landing in the vicinity of the Piotrków Trybunalski (EPPT) airfield. The skydiver sustained no injuries during the landing.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the operator, focused on the sequence of events during the deployment phase of the jump. The inquiry established that the malfunction occurred specifically during the activation of the main canopy at 1,200 meters.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the twisting of the main parachute lines during deployment.
- The skydiver followed emergency procedures by deploying the reserve parachute following the malfunction.