What happened
On July 25, 2024, an SMG-92 Turbo Finist, registration HA-YDH, was conducting parachute jump operations at Thiene Airport when a serious incident occurred at flight level 1456. During the exit phase, the main parachute of an instructor paratrooper accidentally deployed while the individual was positioned at the aircraft door.
The deploying canopy immediately became entangled with the aircraft's tail surfaces, causing the pilot to experience a sudden, severe loss of control lasting approximately five to eight seconds. The instructor, being dragged by the canopy, was momentarily pinned against the horizontal stabilizer. To resolve the situation, the instructor manually released the main parachute and deployed their reserve parachute. Once the main canopy separated from the airframe, the pilot regained control and performed a low-speed descent to land safely at the aerodrome.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation, conducted in collaboration with ENAC, utilized helmet camera footage from another paratrooper on board to reconstruct the sequence of events. The video analysis revealed that as the instructor performed an anti-clockwise rotation to position themselves at the door, their parachute equipment likely interfered with the door frame, exposing the container to the relative wind.
The footage confirmed that the deployment was not caused by the accidental pulling of the hand-deploy pilot chute, as that component remained in its pouch during the initial stages of the container opening. Instead, the investigation focused on the interaction between the parachute container and the aircraft structure during the movement toward the door.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the accidental deployment of the main parachute triggered by the interference of the parachute container's closing system with the aircraft structure.
- The deployment occurred as the paratrooper was maneuvering at the door, likely due to the equipment being exposed to the relative wind and the door pillar.
- The impact of the deploying canopy resulted in structural damage to the left stabilizer, specifically involving a dent and torn skin on the leading edge.
- There were no injuries to the pilot or the paratroopers involved.