What happened
During a parachute jump operation, a parachutist attempted to move into the front float position by climbing out of the aircraft. During this movement, the individual's reserve handle became caught on the aircraft's wing flap. This snagging action triggered the deployment of the reserve pilot chute and the main reserve parachute.
As the parachute deployed, the parachutist was pulled backward, striking a camera operator who was also on the aircraft. The impact dislodged the camera operator, resulting in one minor shoulder injury. During the incident, the parachutist's lower legs also struck the leading edge of the horizontal stabiliser, causing structural damage. The deployed parachute then became wrapped around both the horizontal stabiliser and the elevator, creating significant flight control challenges for the pilot. The pilot was eventually able to maintain enough control to land the aircraft safely without further incident.
The investigation
Investigators examined the sequence of events and the equipment involved. While the parachutist had performed standard gear checks and had practiced the front float position in a ground mock-up, the mock-up lacked a wing flap, meaning the risk of snagging was not identified during training.
It was noted that the parachutist was carrying a hook knife, which was not a mandatory requirement but proved critical. The individual used the knife to cut the parachute lines, allowing the parachute to detach from the tailplane. Additionally, the pilot had previously opened and clipped the roller door to facilitate an emergency exit, which aided the overall management of the situation.
Findings
- The primary cause of the entanglement was the reserve handle snagging on the wing flap during the transition to the front float position.
- The aircraft's control was compromised by the combination of parachute entanglement and impact damage to the horizontal stabiliser.
- The aircraft operator and pilot failed to ensure the aircraft was loaded within its proper weight and balance envelope, as the manifest software used by the club did not perform balance calculations.
- The pilot did not utilize available electronic flight bag tools to verify weight and balance for the flight.
- The pilot did not use supplemental oxygen while operating at or above 14,000 ft, despite regulatory requirements, which increased the risk of hypoxia.