| Date |
Location |
Category |
Age |
# Jumps |
AAD?/RSL? |
Dropzone.com Report |
Dropzone.com Discussion |
| 23/03/2002 |
Louisa, VA |
LAND |
33 |
521 |
N/N |
|
|
| Description: At about 50', this jumper executed a small turn into the wind, whish was blowing at 10mph, with gusts to 16mph. At this point, one side of his canopy collapsed -- the canopy then went into line twists and started to spin. The canopy was almost completely collapsed when he impacted the paved taxiway shortly thereafter. He was jumping a Xoas21 68 ft^2, loaded at approximately 2.1 lb/ft^2. |
| Lessons:Flying the newest, fastest, smaller canopies can add significant risk to your skydive. It is likely that wind turbulance (rotors) may have contributed to this incident. |
| USPA Description: Following an uneventful freefall and initial canopy descent, this jumper was reportedly on a straight-in final approach under a 68-square foot canopy, cross-braced, elliptical canopy on a windy day. When he reached a point approximately 40 to 60 feet above the landing area, witnesses observed the right side of his parachute abruptly fold underneath itself. They reported that the canopy immediately began to spin and collapse further until the jumper hit the taxiway below him. He died at the scene from inuries received during the hard landing. |
USPA Conclusions:Turbulence and winds may have been factors in the collapse of this canopy. Reports varied as to the conditions that existed during this landing for both wind speed and direction. During four readings recorded around the time of the accident, the airport's automated weather observation station reported winds favouring the length of the runway at speeds as low as nine knots but with gusts as high as 19 knots (22 mph).
The canopy was a 68-square-foot, cross-braced, elliptical design that was loaded at 2.13:1. The jumper declared his exit weight (with gear) at 145 pounds. The manufacturer lists on its order form only the maximum weight for this canopy, which is 163 pounds.
Since this fatality, there have been reports of three other cross-braced canopies collapsing in turbulent conditions, two resulting in injuries, but none with a fatal outcome. Those who purchase and jump these specialized designbs generally use them with very high wing loadings. Once a very highly loaded canopy collapses, it leaves very little extra material overhead to slow the jumper's descent. Since they are relatively new designs and not jumped by a large number of jumpers, less is known about how they will behave in the variety of conditions jumpers expose them to.
The jumper's previous canopy experience was not reported, but he reportedly met the manufacturer's 500-jump minimum for this canopy almost exactly. He had reportedly purchased the canopy approximately four months prior to the accident and made 21 jumps on it. Reportedly, the manufacturer intends to inspect and evaluate the canopy but had not received it from the FAA by press time. |
| Name |
Bob Kresge
|