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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

June 8, 2004 · Cessna 182H · N8304S

La Belle, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 8, 2004
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
La Belle, FL
Aircraft
Cessna 182H
Tail Number
N8304S
Operator
Skydive Sw Florida
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MIA04CA095

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. The parachute lines damaged the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The parachutist cut the parachute line releasing her and the chute from the airplane. The incident parachutist landed uneventfully with her reserve parachute. The pilot made a normal landing at the departure airport after a slow descent from 10,000 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause

The inadvertent deployment of the main parachute resulting in damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator.

Full Narrative

On June 8, 2004, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182H, N8304S, registered to Fayard Enterprises, Inc., operated by Skydive SW Florida, incurred substantial damage from an inadvertently deployed skydiver's parachute, near La Belle, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 skydiving release flight. The commercial-rated pilot, and three parachutists reported no injuries. The flight had originated from the Sundance Farms Airport, La Belle, Florida shortly before the accident. 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. The parachute lines damaged the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The parachutist cut the parachute line releasing her and the chute from the airplane. The pilot immediately told the other two parachutists to leave the airplane and he notified air traffic control of his situation. The incident parachutist landed uneventfully with her reserve parachute. The pilot made a normal landing at the departure airport after a slow descent from 10,000 feet.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:30 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 182H
Tail NumberN8304S
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorSkydive Sw Florida
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-D · Reciprocating · 300
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 58 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter30.13 inHg
Observation Time14:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data