Passenger Ejected from Cessna 206 During Descent After AAD Activation

Casualties unknown • nahe Stadtlohn, DE

A passenger was pulled from a Cessna 206G during the final approach to Stadtlohn when his reserve parachute deployed due to high descent rates and an active AAD.

What happened

On July 11, 2009, a Cessna 206G was conducting parachute deployment flights near Stadtlohn, Germany. During the ninth flight of the day, the pilot carried an additional passenger who had paid to observe the tandem jumps. The passenger was wearing a student parachute system equipped with an Automatic Activation Device (AAD) set to 'STUDENT' mode.

After the skydivers had exited the aircraft at 4,000 meters, the passenger moved toward the rear of the cabin to observe the jumpers through a gap between the floor and the closed roll door. As the pilot initiated a descent toward Stadtlohn airfield, the aircraft's descent rate reached the threshold for the AAD activation. At approximately 394 meters, the AAD triggered the reserve parachute. The deployment of the canopy created enough force to pull the passenger through the gap in the door, resulting in severe injuries to the passenger. The aircraft sustained damage to the door frame and skin before landing safely on the runway.

The investigation

The BFU examined the aircraft's configuration, the passenger's equipment, and the operational procedures of the skydiving school. The investigation focused on the communication between the crew and the ground staff, the settings of the AAD, and the structural state of the aircraft's cargo door. Investigators also reviewed the maintenance history of the aircraft, which featured a specialized skydiving kit that lacked FAA approval despite having passed several European inspections.

Findings

  • The pilot performed a high-rate descent to quickly prepare for the next jump, which met the activation criteria for the AAD.
  • Inadequate communication occurred between the pilot, the tandemmaster, and the ground staff; the pilot incorrectly assumed the passenger's AAD was turned off.
  • The passenger was not properly secured in a seat facing the direction of flight, but was instead kneeling in the cabin.
  • The roll door was not fully secured, leaving a gap through which the reserve parachute could enter the slipstream and pull the passenger out.
  • The passenger had not been provided with a written agreement or formal safety briefing regarding the specific risks of the flight.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by the pilot's high-rate descent profile meeting the activation parameters of the passenger's AAD, compounded by the pilot's lack of awareness that the device was active and a gap in the aircraft door that allowed the deploying parachute to pull the passenger from the cabin.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2009-07-11 Cessna U206G accident near nahe Stadtlohn, DE?

A passenger was pulled from a Cessna 206G during the final approach to Stadtlohn when his reserve parachute deployed due to high descent rates and an active AAD.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2009-07-11 involved a Cessna U206G, at nahe Stadtlohn, DE.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by the pilot's high-rate descent profile meeting the activation parameters of the passenger's AAD, compounded by the pilot's lack of awareness that the device was active and a gap in the aircraft door that allowed the deploying parachute to pull the passenger from the cabin.

Loading the flight search…