French investigators have determined that a skydiver was accidentally ejected from a climbing Cessna 208 after he partially opened the exit in order to cool the cabin.
Fourteen skydivers and a single pilot had been on board the aircraft, operated by the Vannes Bretagne sports parachuting school located about 100km northwest of Nantes.
Three experienced individuals and two students were set to jump from 1,200m (3,940ft) with another eight, plus the instructor, jumping from 4,000m.
One of the experienced skydivers was sat adjacent to the rear exit, which had a shutter curtain drawn down.
He partially opened the shutter by about 10cm to ventilate the cabin – as previously agreed with the pilot – at a height of around 450m. Sat facing the rear of the aircraft, he used his foot as a wedge to keep the shutter open.
French investigation authority BEA says this was normal practice during summer months, although the door is supposed to be kept shut below 500m to ensure adequate recovery height should anyone fall.
As the instructor started checking students’ equipment, BEA says the skydiver wedging the door shifted his position slightly, dislodging his parachute extractor handle from its housing.
Air flowing past the open shutter snatched the handle, causing his main parachute canopy to deploy into the external airstream beneath the left-hand horizontal stabiliser, and forcibly pulling him through the shutter.
The skydiver fractured his leg as he struck the exit frame, but – once outside the aircraft – remained sufficiently aware to realise both his main and emergency canopies had deployed.
“He kept the two canopies separate to avoid entanglement until he reached the ground where he was able to land,” says BEA, although it adds that he suffered fractures of five lumbar vertebrae on impact.
The skydiver held a federal instructor qualification and had completed 3,600 jumps. He was quickly located by emergency services following the incident on 1 August last year.
BEA says that, during the occurrence, the pilot felt strong vibrations on the control column and, concerned that there might be an elevator fault, commenced a descent. The vibrations stopped but he opted to land as a precaution. The aircraft sustained minor damage to the exit door frame and shutter slats.
French investigators have determined that a skydiver was accidentally ejected from a climbing Cessna 208 after he partially opened the exit in order to cool the cabin.
Fourteen skydivers and a single pilot had been on board the aircraft, operated by the Vannes Bretagne sports parachuting school located about 100km northwest of Nantes.
Three experienced individuals and two students were set to jump from 1,200m (3,940ft) with another eight, plus the instructor, jumping from 4,000m.
One of the experienced skydivers was sat adjacent to the rear exit, which had a shutter curtain drawn down.
He partially opened the shutter by about 10cm to ventilate the cabin – as previously agreed with the pilot – at a height of around 450m. Sat facing the rear of the aircraft, he used his foot as a wedge to keep the shutter open.
French investigation authority BEA says this was normal practice during summer months, although the door is supposed to be kept shut below 500m to ensure adequate recovery height should anyone fall.
As the instructor started checking students’ equipment, BEA says the skydiver wedging the door shifted his position slightly, dislodging his parachute extractor handle from its housing.
Air flowing past the open shutter snatched the handle, causing his main parachute canopy to deploy into the external airstream beneath the left-hand horizontal stabiliser, and forcibly pulling him through the shutter.
The skydiver fractured his leg as he struck the exit frame, but – once outside the aircraft – remained sufficiently aware to realise both his main and emergency canopies had deployed.
“He kept the two canopies separate to avoid entanglement until he reached the ground where he was able to land,” says BEA, although it adds that he suffered fractures of five lumbar vertebrae on impact.
The skydiver held a federal instructor qualification and had completed 3,600 jumps. He was quickly located by emergency services following the incident on 1 August last year.
BEA says that, during the occurrence, the pilot felt strong vibrations on the control column and, concerned that there might be an elevator fault, commenced a descent. The vibrations stopped but he opted to land as a precaution. The aircraft sustained minor damage to the exit door frame and shutter slats.
Source link
Share This:
admin
Plan the perfect NYC Memorial Day weekend
Pack only what you need and avoid overpacking to streamline the check-in and security screening…
LA’s worst traffic areas and how to avoid them
Consider using alternative routes, such as Sepulveda Boulevard, which runs parallel to the 405 in…
Avia Solutions divests SmartLynx’s Latvian arm and plans to consolidate other European divisions
Wet-lease specialist Avia Solutions Group has sold its Latvian division of SmartLynx and aims to…
Icelandair brings forward Boeing 767 fleet retirement to 2026 amid ‘unsustainable losses’
Icelandair will end widebody operations in 2026, after bringing forward the timeline for phasing out…
France outlines plans to order 52 more Dassault Rafale fighters from 2027 onwards in budget expansion
France could significantly expand its future commitments for the Dassault Aviation Rafale fighter, having disclosed…
Hybrid Air Vehicles locks in ‘innovative defence contractor’ as customer for three Airlander 10 hybrid airships
An undisclosed customer has secured reservations for three Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV)-produced Airlander 10 aircraft…
United Aircraft tests Il-114-300’s navigation capabilities in mountainous Siberian terrain
Russia’s United Aircraft has undertaken a series of flight tests with the Ilyushin Il-114-300 turboprop…
Saab discussing extra production hub to support Ukrainian Gripen E purchase
Saab is already looking at ways of significantly increasing production of its Gripen E fighter…
Denmark, Germany and NATO among sales prospects for GlobalEye surveillance aircraft, Saab chief executive says
European interest in Saab’s GlobalEye surveillance aircraft is continuing to build, as the Swedish company…
Ukraine exploring purchase of Bell AH-1Z attack and UH-1Y utility helicopters
Ukraine has signed a letter of intent with rotorcraft manufacturer Bell exploring the purchase of…
Italy plans to restore lapsed maritime patrol capability with six-aircraft buy
Italy has outlined plans to acquire six new maritime patrol aircraft capable of performing anti-submarine…
Stockholm Arlanda takes advantage of ‘EoR’ concept to increase parallel approach efficiency
Stockholm Arlanda is claiming to be the first European airport to introduce a concept intended…