What happened
On August 1, 2018, a student skydiver with 88 previous jumps performed a training jump at Białystok (EPBK) alongside an instructor. This jump was intended as a control jump (KTS) following a one-year hiatus from the sport. During the descent, the student successfully completed the assigned tasks; however, upon receiving the command from the instructor to deploy the parachute, the student attempted to perform a barrel roll. The student executed two such maneuvers, which resulted in a significant loss of altitude.
During the subsequent deployment of the main parachute, the Automatic Activation Device (AAD) triggered. As a result, the student descended under the deployment of two parachutes. The canopies initially formed a "banana" configuration before transitioning into a "madman" (unstable) configuration. The student did not attempt to disconnect the main canopy before landing near the airfield. The landing was completed without injuries.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the operator, examined the sequence of events following the instructor's commands and the mechanical activation of the AAD. The investigation focused on the student's adherence to instructions and the aerodynamic behavior of the parachutes during the deployment phase.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a lack of discipline in following the commands issued by the supervising instructor.
- The unauthorized aerial maneuvers performed by the student led to a loss of altitude and contributed to the unstable canopy configuration.
Safety action
Following the incident, the jump organizer reviewed the event with all skydivers, providing a refresher on proper procedures and emergency protocols.