What happened
On July 21, 2012, at Plzeň - Líně airport, an 18-year-old male student was participating in his first solo jump as part of a basic skydiving training course. The jump was conducted from an altitude of 1200 m AGL using an An-2 aircraft, registration OK-WHB.
Immediately after the parachute canopy fully inflated, the main parachute began to rotate around its axis. This rotation steadily increased in speed, causing the descent rate to accelerate. During the descent, the student failed to take any corrective action, such as manually deploying the reserve parachute or cutting away the main canopy. The student struck the ground on his abdomen, sustaining multiple traumatic injuries. Despite rapid medical intervention by instructors and the arrival of the Air Rescue Service, the student succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation examined the student' and the equipment, including the Navigator 240 main parachute and the PD 235R reserve parachute. Investigators reviewed video footage of the jump and interviewed witnesses, including the instructor and other students.
The technical inspection of the parachute system found the equipment to be in excellent condition and fully functional. The reserve parachute's manual and automatic activation mechanisms were intact. However, the investigation noted that the instructor did not communicate with the student via radio during the emergency. Furthermore, the investigation found that the student's weight, estimated at approximately 85 kg, exceeded the recommended student category limit for the Navigator 240 (82 kg). Additionally, the automatic activation device (AAD) was set to "EXPERT" mode rather than "STUDENT" mode, which might have influenced its activation timing.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the student's failure to react to the developing rotation of the parachute.
- The parachute used was unsuitable for the student's weight category, as his estimated mass exceeded the 82 kg limit for the student class of the Navigator 240.
- The instructor failed to communicate with the student during the critical phase of the jump.
- The instructor failed to ensure the AAD was set to the correct "STUDENT" mode.
- The jump organizer failed to adhere to regulations regarding the maximum number of students permitted per flight load.
- The parachute harness was not properly equipped with a dedicated attachment point for a radio transmitter.