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 it. After most of the jumpers had left the airplane, one of the skydivers came forward and notified the pilot of damage to the tail. After a controllability check, the pilot landed the airplane without further incident. Structural damage to the left horizontal stabilizer was found after the flight. A skydiver was standing at the door of the airplane when his reserve chute inadvertently deployed, pulling the skydiver out of the airplane. The skydiver then struck the horizontal stabilizer after being pulled from the airplane.
December 7, 2008, Homestead, Fla., Cessna 208 Caravan
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 it. After most of the jumpers had left the airplane, one of the skydivers came forward and notified the pilot of damage to the tail. After a controllability check, the pilot landed the airplane without further incident.
Key Takeaways:
- A skydiver's reserve parachute inadvertently deployed, pulling him from the aircraft and causing him to strike the horizontal stabilizer.
- The pilot felt a shudder but maintained control, learning of tail damage from a skydiver after most jumpers had exited.
- Despite the in-flight incident, the pilot conducted a controllability check and landed the airplane without further incident, with structural damage to the left horizontal stabilizer confirmed post-flight.
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