What happened
On May 18, 2012, a skydiver performing a formation flight maneuver jumped from a L 410 aircraft at an altitude of 4,000 meters near Příbram Airport (LKPM). Following the jump, the skydiver attempted to deploy the main parachute by manually deploying the pilot chute. Video footage from a companion shows the skydiver attempting to locate the pilot chute at approximately 1,750 meters, but failing to grasp it.
Despite subsequent attempts to manipulate the pilot chute at lower altitudes, the skydiver did not successfully deploy the main canopy. As the descent continued, the skydiver reached a critical altitude of approximately 230 meters, at which point the automatic activation device (AAD) triggered the release of the reserve parachute. Due to the low altitude and high descent rate, the skydiver was unable to steer the reserve canopy away from obstacles. The skydiver struck a metal structure and solar panels at a photovoltaic plant located approximately 630 meters south of the airport, resulting in severe injuries to the face and leg.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation examined the skydiver's flight sequence, the functionality of the parachute equipment, and the technical specifications of the reserve canopy. Investigators reviewed video footage of the freefall, analyzed the data from the CYPRES Expert AAD, and inspected the state of the parachute system at the impact site. The investigation also noted that the reserve parachute, a PD Reserve 160, was being used at a high wing loading of approximately 1.36 lb/ft², which is near the upper limit for the 'Expert' category.
Findings
- The skydiver failed to deploy the main parachute because they were unable to successfully grasp the pilot chute during freefall.
- The skydiver's attempts to rectify the situation by changing body positions led to a delay in deploying the reserve parachute.
- The high wing loading of the reserve parachute, combined with the skydiver's weight, contributed to an extremely high impact velocity.
- The skydiver likely had insufficient time to maneuver the reserve canopy to avoid the solar panel array due to the low altitude of the AAD activation.
- The primary cause of the accident was the skydiver's improper procedure during an emergency, specifically attempting to deploy the main parachute via the pilot chute instead of immediately deploying the reserve, compounded by the use of an unsuitable reserve parachute size for the given weight and experience level.
Safety action
- The ÚZPLN recommends that the Civil Aviation Authority amend the guidelines for parachute jumps in aero clubs to include principles for the correct selection of parachute equipment based on the skydiver's total weight and experience level.