Friday Freakout: Skydiver Knocked Out By Hard Premature Parachute Opening

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WHAT HAPPENED
These skydivers had planned to dock and do a linked barrel role on a belly jump. Unfortunately, during the roll, one jumper's pilot chute was exposed to the relative wind and their pilot chute got ripped out of the BOC. The other jumper kept a pretty firm grip on their buddy, pulling them head-down for a second before they were ripped away. Being jerked from head-down to head-up, combined with that oh-so-delightful transition from free fall to a snappily opened canopy, knocked the jumper out. Luckily, they came to under canopy and landed safely.
WHY DID IT HAPPEN
Loose BOC
The jumper noted that they had been able to pack their pilot chute into the BOC with ease prior to this jump and hadn't really considered whether it needed to be replaced. Based on the description, it sounds like the elastic closure on the BOC or the spandex material from which the BOC is made may have worn out. When that happens, the relative wind can be enough to catch the pilot chute and yank it out, causing a premature deployment.
HOW COULD IT BE PREVENTED
Pay Attention While Packing!
As you run your lines out, are you checking to see if they're starting to wear out? Are you looking to see if your brake lines need to get untwisted? Are you making sure your closing loop isn't showing some use? These tiny details aren't a big deal... until suddenly they are. Worn lines can snap. Twisted brake lines can cause tension knots. Old closing loops can cause premature deployments. Packing isn't just about getting your canopy back in the container; it's a process during which you're checking your gear to make sure it's safe to jump. Here, the skydiver submitting the video was the first to note that a pilot chute shouldn't slide in super easily. They knew that if you're meeting no resistance, it may be time to replace the BOC. They didn't do that and were lucky not to have gotten hurt. In short, pay attention while packing. If something isn’t right, take yourself off the load, talk to a rigger, and ensure you're good to go.
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[@TEEMsky]

*WHAT HAPPENED* These skydivers had planned to dock and do a linked barrel role on a belly jump. Unfortunately, during the roll, one jumper's pilot chute was exposed to the relative wind and their pilot chute got ripped out of the BOC. The other jumper kept a pretty firm grip on their buddy, pulling them head-down for a second before they were ripped away. Being jerked from head-down to head-up, combined with that oh-so-delightful transition from free fall to a snappily opened canopy, knocked the jumper out. Luckily, they came to under canopy and landed safely. *WHY DID IT HAPPEN* Loose BOC The jumper noted that they had been able to pack their pilot chute into the BOC with ease prior to this jump and hadn't really considered whether it needed to be replaced. Based on the description, it sounds like the elastic closure on the BOC or the spandex material from which the BOC is made may have worn out. When that happens, the relative wind can be enough to catch the pilot chute and yank it out, causing a premature deployment. *HOW COULD IT BE PREVENTED* Pay Attention While Packing! As you run your lines out, are you checking to see if they're starting to wear out? Are you looking to see if your brake lines need to get untwisted? Are you making sure your closing loop isn't showing some use? These tiny details aren't a big deal... until suddenly they are. Worn lines can snap. Twisted brake lines can cause tension knots. Old closing loops can cause premature deployments. Packing isn't just about getting your canopy back in the container; it's a process during which you're checking your gear to make sure it's safe to jump. Here, the skydiver submitting the video was the first to note that a pilot chute shouldn't slide in super easily. They knew that if you're meeting no resistance, it may be time to replace the BOC. They didn't do that and were lucky not to have gotten hurt. In short, pay attention while packing. If something isn’t right, take yourself off the load, talk to a rigger, and ensure you're good to go.

[@sky173]

Hard openings can be so painful. I've had a few and they are never fun. 😭

[@thebarkingmouse]

Regular openings are rough enough with a zero p.

[@niftyhacker]

Had one which ended with a meter / 3ft rip in my chute :D Luckily only had a mild neck pain for a week.

[@guilhem3739]

What are the wounds you can suffer (I never jumped)?

[@thebarkingmouse]

@@guilhem3739 A lot. A hard opening can kill you depending on the angle and speed. Look at how that guy's head got snapped down to his chest. If you aren't strong, or you aren't in the right position it can snap your neck, or cause spinal injuries.

[@sky173]

@@guilhem3739 depends on the harness, but most injuries are neck and spine related problems. Some people have even broke ribs. I'm sure there are more, but those are the most common.

[@andyhwell8419]

Nobody fears a hard opening until they have one. After my couple of really bad ones, pull time has become the scariest part

[@jerrodwilliams6789]

three words FREEFLY FRIENDLY RIG

[@vilhokivihalme9878]

He is barely even on his side when the pilot chute is released. I would hardly call that "free fly".

[@ryanryan8]

​@vilhokivihalme9878 I think the point is that if this jumper had a freefly friendly rig, this likely wouldn't have happened. Any jumper can end up in an orientation other than belly to earth. Having a fff rig can prevent bad things from happening.

[@vilhokivihalme9878]

@@ryanryan8 Yes, but I was trying to make a the point that this is definitely just a loose BOC and/or an error in pilot chute packing. Yes, the slim freefly handle can help, but whatever gear you are using, a simple barrer roll or backflip should not deploy you pilot chute.

[@bigb3n011]

Without reading the description I’m gonna go out on a limb; loose elastic on the BOC? Or pilot chute not stowed all the way at exit?

[@joshuat5874]

definitely havent seen the latex gloves on the outside before, that's a new one lol

[@jmtcol5280]

Kind of two malfunctions here: Premature opening and hard opening. Maybe the premature opening and body position/ speed caused the slider to be out of place? Sucks this happen to one of my peeps. This is my home DZ.

[@ryanryan8]

Also, increased speed often equals accelerated openings.

[@jjw6789]

Ever actually been a BULLWHIP? Homie here has damn.

[@jptothetree]

Yeah that's not a fun day. The whiplash from that must be absolutely awful..

[@ВарвараГинзбург]

I'm still a beginner (A License). Could someone explain, why is premature opening so hard, even if a jumper is doing belly?

[@vxxcvxx7745]

They aren't prepared physically or mentally for the chute to open hence it comes more of a shock to the body. Additionally, other factors such as the body position on opening are taken into account. That's the main things but there are many other factors such as the way the rig was packed, size of canopy, wind/gust...and just bad luck!

[@TEEMsky]

Did you read the full video description?

[@gouda2872]

The answer is in the description breakdown. His jump partner held on pulling him head down before opening. Head down = around 180ish mph as opposed to 120ish mph

[@TheHapton]

@@TEEMskygreat attitude

[@slartybarfastb3648]

​@@TheHaptonEasier than repeating everything already in the description.

[@beartracks283]

He didn’t look like he was out he looked up then down and video stopped bet he didn’t feel good

[@sirhansel]

According to him in our FB group, he was out for a moment, came to, and then landed

[@navyplumberboy8274]

Thank god i have a sabre 2. Never a hard opening with that one. Just takes me 4000 feet to open.

[@Pghlife966]

Wasn’t knocked out but damn he gonna feel that

[@philipsturtivant9385]

Can't happen to a pin-pull pilot chute. End of discussion.😊

[@lukemoller1127]

Yep I've had the brused thighs

[@UltimateLogbookApp]

Ouch

[@David.Harrison84]

Knocked out?

[@natural9743]

The moral of the story here is check your gear in detail as you pack.

[@nanocr]

@@natural9743 dude please consider the northern winds, its not easy to go teaching kid

[@natural9743]

@@nanocr 😆

[@Art--Deco]

Premature Ejectulation.

[@baby0024]

Could someone kindly explain to me why some people would share video footage of themselves making mistakes while parachuting? I would be very embarrassed and reluctant to share videos of my own parachuting errors online.

[@sanfranciscobay]

Your mistake may help others before it happens to them. Skydiving is a dangerous Sport.

[@toddwitt939]

For educational purposes. Many ask why deaths are reported in The Parachutist. It's to learn from the mistakes. The BSRs are written in the blood of other skydivers.

[@BurninatorTheTrogdor]

Well you aren't the first to think that. There are huge egos in skydiving and BASE but I think that safety has really become more important to pretty much every pro. If you don't study the accidents and blindly follow other people you could very well end up on here. The truth is you have to know your gear and expect this stuff to happen every jump. You are still jumping out of a moving turbine aircraft and falling to the earth at 180 mph. Sht happens.

[@KirkForrest-e5o]

Even back in the early days, skydivers will look out for each other. I made my first jump in 1974. If a jumper makes a mistake you stepped up and talked about it. It might save someone. I've done plenty of stupid stuff on jumps. It makes great conversations over the beer I bought.

[@stevebinkler6554]

To LEARN !!!

[@jjw6789]

Holy shit. Now a wheelchair noodle

[@sirhansel]

Nah he's good -- this video is a few years old and he's still jumping at Mile-Hi

[@foxctcnn]

По-русски что скажут?))