What happened
On October 19, 2019, during a tandem skydiving jump near the Chrcynno aerodrome (EPNC), a tandem instructor and passenger experienced a severe rotation known as a "side spin" immediately after exiting the aircraft. The centrifugal forces generated by the intense rotation caused the instructor to suffer a partial loss of consciousness, loss of vision, and nasal bleeding.
Unable to stabilize the pair's position due to these physical impairments, the instructor initiated emergency procedures and deployed the reserve parachute. Upon the deployment of the reserve, the instructor regained consciousness, though visual impairments persisted. The passenger remained conscious and uninjured, providing verbal guidance to the instructor to help steer the parachute toward a meadow located outside the airfield.
Following the landing, the instructor detached the passenger, who sought assistance from a nearby residence. Emergency responders arrived at the landing site to provide medical aid. Due to the instructor's condition, an air ambulance (LPR) was dispatched to transport the instructor to a hospital in Międzylesie for medical evaluation.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanics of the exit and the subsequent rotation. The inquiry examined the physical state of the instructor and the stability of the tandem pair during the deployment phase of the jump.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was an unstable exit from the aircraft and an undefined orientation of the tandem instructor and passenger in the air, which triggered the intense side spin.
- The physical forces of the rotation directly resulted in the instructor's temporary loss of consciousness and vision.