What happened
On June 13, 2019, a tandem paragliding flight was conducted at the northern slope of Góra Żar in Międzybrodzie Żywieckie. The flight was part of a commercial sightseeing service operated by the Albatros paragliding school. After two unsuccessful takeoff attempts due to unfavorable wind conditions, a third attempt was initiated at approximately 15:10 LMT.
During the takeoff roll, the pilot attempted to adjust the passenger's position in the harness. At this moment, the left spreader bar connection became detached from the carabiner. This caused the passenger to hang solely from the right spreader bar, creating an asymmetric load on the Icar/Parus 41.5 wing.
As the flight progressed, the crew encountered tree tops. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in the canopy of the trees, maneuvering the passenger to protect their face. During the impact, the passenger struck the ground first, sustaining serious injuries, while the pilot remained uninjured after grabbing a branch to decelerate the descent.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the equipment involved, including the Icar/Parus 41.5 wing, the Woody Valley harnesses, and several carabiners. Analysis of video footage recorded by the passenger revealed that during the takeoff roll, the passenger was holding the left carabiner with their left hand while filming with their right.
The investigation focused on the functionality of the Woody Valley carabiner used on the left spreader bar. It was discovered that the locking lever failed to return to the closed position after being fully opened. The carabiner showed signs of wear, including numerous paint chips.
Findings
- The unintentional opening of the carabiner, which led to the spreader bar detachment, was the primary cause of the accident.
- The use of a malfunctioning carabiner acted as a contributing factor.
- The pilot failed to notice during the pre-flight inspection that the carabiner's locking mechanism was defective.
- The passenger's actions during the takeoff roll—specifically holding the carabiner and not maintaining a proper position in the harness—likely contributed to the accidental release of the mechanism.
- The pilot was fully qualified, medically fit, and not under the influence of alcohol.