1 Matches (out of a total of 833 incidents)

1. Date	Location	Category	Age	# Jumps	AAD?/RSL?	Dropzone.com Report	Dropzone.com Discussion
   24/03/2001	Louisburg, NC	MAL	34	323	?/?
   Description: A four way and a videographer exited a twin otter from 13000'. The videographer filmed the 4-way, which went normally until breakoff. The videographer was supposed to pull from the center at 4000. Members of the 4-way observed him at 2500' with a bag locked main. On the ground, the main suspension lines were found entangled with the eyepiece on the helmet. The reserve pilot chute was entangled with the main, and (apparently?) both stows on the reserve were out. The reserve ripcord had been pulled, and was not found, indicating perhaps a high deployment of the reserve. The cutaway release was found near the hand of the deceased. He had made 55 jumps in the last month, most camera jumps, and was quite current.
   Lessons:A horseshow malfunction is the most difficult one to handle. Ideally, this jumper would have managed to release his helmet before cutting away or deploying the reserve. However, many helmets are quite difficult to release quickly, and when in the high-stress situation of a malfunction. It is unfortunate that the reserve did not escape the freebag, as the report seems into indicate the reserve lines were not involved in the entanglement.
   USPA Description: This jumper was videoing a 4-way formation skydive. The plan was for him to deploy at 4,000 feet. Members of the 4-way team observed him at 2,500 feet with a bag-lock malfunction. The deceased was found with main suspension lines wrapped around the eye piece of his camera helmet. The reserve had been delpoyed, and the reserve pilot chute was entangled with the main. The reserve ripcord could not be located, but the cutaway handle was near his hand.
   USPA Conclusions:The reason for the camera helmet-main canopy entanglement is not known. The evidence indicates that the main was deployed first. The jumper apparently deployed the reserve before the main was released. The main evidently was cut away very late. The correct actions would have been to attempt to clear the camera-canopy entanglement first, altitude permitting, then attempt to cut away the malfunctioned main before deploying the reserve. However, entanglements of this nature present a fast-paced, challenging situation. A jumper must keep altitude in mind to complete the recommended emergency procedures if the initial problem can't be rectified. Camera jumps involve many serious challenges that need to be considered by any jumper contemplating jumping with cameras or any special equipment.
   Name	Richard Lancaster