Re: [unclecharlie95] Fatality - Italy 25/05/08
A statement from Tracy Walker and the Mucho BASE Team regarding the investigation performed into the incident:
In reply to:
From the inspection performed on Manu's rig we were unable to recreate the obvious cause.
From looking at the police photographs of the accident scene and by eliminating other possibilities through inspection of the gear, we are quite sure the pilot chute in tow was caused by the wingsuit Velcro shrivel flap - that is the Velcro sleeve attached to the bridle to stow the PC on the thigh of certain wingsuits e.g. Skyflyer, Vampire, Phantom, Matter 3, etc.
The shrivel flap was found in a collapsed "shriveled" state after the incident. We suspect Manu stowed the Velcro shrivel flap under the side flap of the container rather than with the rest of the bridle inside the PC / BOC pouch; although, this too was a possibility.
On deployment, the Velcro shrivel flap became stuck somewhere, perhaps in the corner of the rig and under tension, it "shriveled", further increasing the pull force required to release it.
Without success, we tried to recreate the blockage on the original equipment. However, given the witnesses and the police photos, we remain confident in our hypothesis that it was the shrivel flap which caused the pilot chute in tow.
Recommendations:
Do not use this type of bridle for non-wingsuit jumps, where it would be packed for deployment. Purchase an additional bridle, they are inexpensive.
Gear check before exit.
Reach back and pull everything if your stuff is not working.
If you must use a Velcro flap for non-wingsuit jumps, the only was to completely avoid the possibility of this kind of malfunction is to go hand held.
