20091012024169I

On October 12, 2009, at approximately 1230 HST, a 27-year-OLD male parachutist was fattally injured in the vicinity of Dillingham Airfield in Mokuleia, HI. Witnesses stated that the parachutist departed a Cessna 208 aircraft from approximately 12,000 feet with two other parachutist and a videographer. Somewhere between 3,000 and 3,500 feet the parachutist attempted to open his main parachute and suffered a pilot chute in tow malfunction which resulted in the main parachute being locked in the container. It did not appear to witnesses that the parachutist made an attempt to deploy the reserve parachute. Post-incident examination of the parachute equipment showed that the main parachute had been improperly packed. The container sides flaps were out of sequence. The right side flap was on top, instead of the left side flap, as is called out in the manufacturer instructions. The main parachute pilot chute bridle was misrouted under the right side flap. The routing of the main parachute closing pin came from above the right side flap, thereby creating a situation whereby a main parachute pilot chute in tow malfunction was inevitable. Witnesses stated that the parachutist packed his won parachute. No automatic activation device was installed in the parachute system. A reserve static line was installed and connected. The main parachute cutaway handle as well as the reserve ripcord were both missing. One of the first responders, who is also a parachutist, stated that he saw the reserve ripchord but it was out of the pocket with some of the ripchord cable exposed. The loss of the main parachute cutaway handle and reserve ripchord may have happened during recovery of the victim. It appeared that the reserve parachute was propely packed by a certificated senior parachute rigger on July 9, 2009. The reserve parachute was out of the container; however, the reserve suspension lines were still stowed on the freebag. The reserve closing loop was intact. Description of the parachutes and their packing records: main parachute-performance designs spectre 150, p/n SP0150P04, s/n SP150-006441, manufactured 12/2003. Reserve parachute-performance designs PR-143, p/n PD143R, s/n PR-143 04227, manufactured under FAA TSO C23C category b 05/2008. Harness and container – sunrise manufacturing internation, inc. (wings), p/n SRI100, model W-8-3 ext, s/n 4264, manufactued under FAA TSO C-23D 07/2005. A reserve static line was installed and connected. The main parachute container had a bottom of container (b.o.c.) throw out pilot chute installed. A recommendation was made to the drop zone operator that a pre-jump equiment check be accomplished on all parachutist prior to boarding the airacraft with the intent of making a parachute jump. A pilot chute in tow due to improper packing might be prevented if a pre-jump equipment check is accomplished.