What happened
On August 31, 2018, a skydiver was performing a tandem-camera jump near the Chrcynno (EPNC) aerodrome. Upon reaching an altitude of approximately 1,000 meters, the skydiver deployed the main parachute, which immediately experienced a "twist" phenomenon. This malfunction caused the parachute to enter deep, uncontrolled spins.
In response to the instability, the skydiver executed emergency procedures by cutting away the malfunctioning main canopy and deploying the reserve parachute. The landing was completed on the operational part of the airfield, and the skydiver sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation, concluded on September 4, 2018, focused on the mechanics of the canopy deployment and the specific nature of the malfunction. The inquiry examined the equipment used, specifically the Crossfire2 99 parachute, to determine why the canopy failed to inflate symmetrically.
Findings
The investigation identified several potential contributing factors that may have led to the asymmetric deployment and subsequent spinning. These possibilities included an asymmetric body profile during the inflation process, unevenly distributed suspension line weaves into the rubber grommets, or uneven wear of the rubber grommets themselves. Because no single definitive cause could be established, the investigation could not pinpoint one specific failure point.