The commercial pilot was conducting a skydiving flight with 15 skydivers on board. The pilot reported
that, at 5,000 ft above ground level, he reconfigured the airplane for a climb and activated the interior
amber jump lights, which indicated that the door could be opened to spot the jump zone. Two jumpers
safely exited the airplane at that time. The pilot then initiated another climb. The pilot did not recall any
jump indication lights being illuminated in the cabin during the climb, and none of the remaining
jumpers notified him of any illuminated jump lights. However, three of the jumpers later reported that
the amber jump light remained illuminated at that time. One of the jumpers informed a senior jumper
from the operator that the light was on, but he indicated that it was not a problem, and the jumpers all
affirmed that no one informed the pilot that the amber light remained on.
Category: Tail Strike
According to the pilot’s report, he leveled the airplane about 11,000 feet and established a speed of 80 mph with 10 degrees of flaps extended. When the last skydiver exited the airplane, its nose pitched up. The pilot pushed forwarded on the control wheel and added full engine power
According to the pilot, he leveled the airplane at 8,500 feet for a tandem skydive. When the instructor
exited the airplane, the nose pitched up, then the airplane pitched over into a right, descending turn. The
pilot assessed the situation and determined that the right horizontal stabilizer was bent. He later
determined that the instructor’s drogue chute became trapped under the flap handle, resulting in a
premature deployment of the parachute. The drogue chute then caught the horizontal stabilizer, resulting
in a 45-degree downward bend. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures
with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
As a skydiver was exiting the airplane, his parachute inadvertently deployed and struck the
right horizontal stabilizer. He deployed his reserve parachute and landed without further
incident. After all the skydivers had exited the airplane, the pilot saw that the right horizontal
stabilizer and elevator were damaged. After an uneventful landing, postaccident examination
revealed the right stabilizer spar was bent.
The pilot stated that he was descending the airplane from an altitude of 8,000 feet after releasing skydivers. During the descent, at an altitude of about 3,000 feet, the airplane’s door opened and contacted the underside of the wing. The pilot slowed the airplane and attempted to close the door but noticed that the door had warped and that the window was missing.
During a skydiving flight at approximately 14,000 feet, an instructor positioned himself at the door opening with his jump student nearby. The student inadvertently pulled the instructor’s reserve parachute D-ring, deploying the chute and pulling the instructor out of the airplane
The flight was at 13,500 feet overhead the airport, preparing for the skydivers to jump. The pilot turned on the green light to initiate the jump. He then felt the aircraft shudder, but did not lose control of the airplane. After most of the jumpers had left the airplane, one of the skydivers came forward and notified the pilot of damage to the tail.
The commercial pilot reported that he was en route to a parachutist jump zone on the first of two planned jumps. Prior to the first jump, before he had slowed the airplane, or illuminated the green jump light, indicating that the parachutists had permission to jump, two of the parachutists prematurely jumped.
The pilot began descending when he thought all jumpers had departed the airplane, but 1 jumper remained. The remaining jumper realized the airplane was descending but was too late to stop his exit. After exiting the airplane he contacted the horizontal stabilizer and broke the femur of his left leg.
A skydiver jumped up and out of the airplane instead of dropping out of the exit and keeping a low trajectory. He then impacted the horizontal stabilizer and fell away from the leading edge. The skydiver’s automatic deployment system activated and opened the parachute.
The Cessna 182, operating as a platform for skydiving operations, sustained substantial damage during a skydiving flight. The commercial pilot reported a skydiver’s reserve parachute accidentally deployed while the skydiver was getting established on the step before jumping from the airplane.
The pilot stated that while the first parachutist was climbing out on the airplanes strut, her pilot chute got caught on a safety belt resulting in the inadvertent deployment of her main parachute, which streamed back over the right horizontal stabilizer. The parachutist went under as the main parachute went over the top of the stabilizer.
While the aircraft was level at 10,500 feet above sea level (MSL), four skydivers took their positions on the right exterior jump-step of the aircraft. Just after the last jumper was on the step, the parachute of one of the jumpers inadvertently deployed and streamed back into the aircraft’s tail surfaces.
According to the FAA, the skydiver was standing on the strut preparing to jump when his pilot parachute opened and wrapped around the tail section of the airplane.
During a parachute jump activity one of the two parachutists on the airplane’s jump step began a cadence used to jump from the step. According to the jumpmaster the parachutist began an exaggerated rocking motion. During this rocking motion his reserve parachute’s ripcord pin protective flap brushed against the airplane’s open door.
The pilot stated that after climbing to 10,000′ msl on a skydiving flight, the occupants began preparations for the fourth and final parachute jump of the day. The first parachutist (skydiver) of three was standing on the right wing strut preparing to jump, when his main parachute (that he had packed himself) deployed inadvertently.
The airplane took off with four parachutists on board. After reaching an altitude of 11,000 feet, one parachutist exited the airplane. As the second parachutist was exiting, his reserve parachute deployed pulling him toward the rear of the airplane. The parachute canopy went over the top of the horizontal stabilizer and the parachutist went under the stabilizer.
The aircraft was damaged when a sport parachutist collided with the horizontal stabilizer while exiting the aircraft at 13,000 feet msl. According to statements from the pilots and other jumpers on board the aircraft, the injured jumper’s reserve parachute deployed as he exited the door. The parachute momentarily draped over the left leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer,
A student sport parachutist was preparing for a static line jump. The parachute inadvertently deployed as he was moving into jump position, outside of the airplane. Canopy static lines caught on the horizontal stabilizer, twisting the empennage.
During sport parachute operations the aircraft inadvertently stalled when too many jumpers attached themselves on the outside of the aircraft. The jumpers had been briefed on limiting the number to exit at one time to six; however, they ignored these instructions. As they departed the aircraft the pilot regained control and landed without further incident.
The reserve parachute of one of the skydivers inadvertently deployed and pulled him out of the airplane, striking the left horizontal stabilizer. Examination of the reserve parachute revealed no evidence of any fault with the automatic signaling device.
During a daytime flight, maneuvering at 8,500 feet msl, a parachute jumper exited the airplane to position on the right wing strut in preparation for the jump. The jumper’s reserve parachute inadvertently opened and the jumper was pulled from the strut and impacted the leading edge of the right horizontal stabilizer bending the spar. The airplane landed safely without further incident.
Pilot was flying a group of sport parachutists on a jump run, and noticed a pilot parachute out of its pack. The pilot yelled at parachutist but he stepped onto the aircraft wing strut. The parachute deployed and pulled the parachutist off the strut. The parachute became momentarily entangled with the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot landed the aircraft safely. The parachutist landed safely.
With the door open and preparing to jump, a skydiver had premature deployment of his main parachute. He jumped out the door and his parachute became entangled in the elevator of the airplane. The pilot said the airplane pitched down and the other skydivers immediately exited the airplane. The skydiver whose parachute was entangled with the tail, cut away his parachute and used his reserved chute for landing.
As the jumpmaster and student jumper backed into the door of the airplane in preparation for a tandem jump, he had a uncommanded deployment of his reserve parachute, that dragged them out the door. The jumpers went under the left horizontal stabilizer while the canopy went over the top. After a few seconds, the parachute shroud lines cut through the horizontal stabilizer and deformed the left elevator