What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
After examination it was determined that the drogue parachute was not deployed by the instructor upon exiting the aircraft in a tandem jump. The reserve parachute was deployed by the instructor when the main didnt respond. The reserve canopy fully inflated after deployment. A witness stated that at approximately 300 feet from the ground the edge of the reserve chute buckled, which caused the tandem team to veer excessively, eventually collapsing the reserve chute. The student was fatally injured and the instructor sustained two broken legs, ten broken ribs, a concussion, and various cracked teeth. The instructor was airlifted to the hospital.
Three subject matter experts were asked to examine the parachute rig in a secured location. It was determined that both the main and reserve parachutes were in good working order, were properly maintained, and packed. In normal sequence the drogue parachute is deployed first, then the main. The main parachute will not deploy without the drogue parachute deploying first. The drogue parachute had not been deployed but was in good working order and was properly packed. All required markings and certificates were intact and appropriate.
During an interview the instructor believed that he had deployed the drogue parachute. He stated that after the reserve parachute was deployed the student and instructor hit a gust of wind which he believed caused the caused the edge of the reserve chute to fold over, consequently deflating the reserve chute at 300 feet.
The parachute rig was returned to the owner after examination.
As the FAA filed it
AFTER EXAMINATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DROGUE PARACHUTE WAS NOT DEPLOYED BY THE INSTRUCTOR UPON EXITING THE AIRCRAFT IN A TANDEM JUMP. THE RESERVE PARACHUTE WAS DEPLOYED BY THE INSTRUCTOR WHEN THE MAIN DIDNT RESPOND. THE RESERVE CANOPY FULLY INFLATED AFTER DEPLOYMENT. A WITNESS STATED THAT AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET FROM THE GROUND THE EDGE OF THE RESERVE CHUTE BUCKLED, WHICH CAUSED THE TANDEM TEAM TO VEER EXCESSIVELY, EVENTUALLY COLLAPSING THE RESERVE CHUTE. THE STUDENT WAS FATALLY INJURED AND THE INSTRUCTOR SUSTAINED TWO BROKEN LEGS, TEN BROKEN RIBS, A CONCUSSION, AND VARIOUS CRACKED TEETH. THE INSTRUCTOR WAS AIRLIFTED TO THE HOSPITAL.
THREE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS WERE ASKED TO EXAMINE THE PARACHUTE RIG IN A SECURED LOCATION. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT BOTH THE MAIN AND RESERVE PARACHUTES WERE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER, WERE PROPERLY MAINTAINED, AND PACKED. IN NORMAL SEQUENCE THE DROGUE PARACHUTE IS DEPLOYED FIRST, THEN THE MAIN. THE MAIN PARACHUTE WILL NOT DEPLOY WITHOUT THE DROGUE PARACHUTE DEPLOYING FIRST. THE DROGUE PARACHUTE HAD NOT BEEN DEPLOYED BUT WAS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER AND WAS PROPERLY PACKED. ALL REQUIRED MARKINGS AND CERTIFICATES WERE INTACT AND APPROPRIATE.
DURING AN INTERVIEW THE INSTRUCTOR BELIEVED THAT HE HAD DEPLOYED THE DROGUE PARACHUTE. HE STATED THAT AFTER THE RESERVE PARACHUTE WAS DEPLOYED THE STUDENT AND INSTRUCTOR HIT A GUST OF WIND WHICH HE BELIEVED CAUSED THE CAUSED THE EDGE OF THE RESERVE CHUTE TO FOLD OVER, CONSEQUENTLY DEFLATING THE RESERVE CHUTE AT 300 FEET.
THE PARACHUTE RIG WAS RETURNED TO THE OWNER AFTER EXAMINATION.
Other reports on N260WE · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.