Skydiving Emergencies

The bulk of the content from this section is republished with permission from Chapter 4 of Parachuting: The Skydiver's Handbook by Dan Poynter and Mike Turoff. Although rare, the fact of the matter is that there are a number of possible emergencies in skydiving that could either hurt or kill you. The emphasis in this section is on education. If you are uncertain about anything speak to your jumpmasters.

On The Ground

• Hazard Briefings
  
• Alcohol and Drugs
  
• Health Concerns
  
• Scuba Diving Alert
  
• Some Fear is Good for You
  

Airport Safety

In The Aircraft

• Airplane problems
  
  
• Open parachute in the airplane
  

On Exit

• Exit hazards-static line
  
• Exit hazards-AFF
  
• Dangling static line
  
• Student in tow
  
• Static line not hooked up
  
• Pulling high is dangerous
  

In Freefall

• Accelerated FreeFall (AFF) emergencies
  
• AFF: Loss of one jumpmaster
  
• AFF: Loss of both jumpmasters
  
• Five-Second Rule for loss of stability
  
• Loss of altitude awareness
  
• Goggles
  

At Deployment

• Lost handle
  
• Hard pull
  
• Pilot chute hesitation
  
• Pull-out v. throw-out
  
• Trapped pilot chute
  
• Pilot chute in tow
  

Under Canopy

• Jettisoning the main canopy
  
• Two Action System (TAS)
  
• The Single Operation System (S.O.S)
  
• Canopy transfer
  
• Harness shift
  

Parachute Mulfunctions

• Total malfunctions
  
• Partial malfunctions
  
• Major partial malfunctions
  
  
  
  • Bag Lock
    
  • Horseshoe
    
  • Violent spin
    
  • Line overs
    

  
  

• Partial malfunctions that may be majors or minors
  
  
  
  • Rips and tears
    
  • The snivel
    
  • Slider hang-up, at the canopy
    
  • Slider hang-up, halfway
    
  • Broken suspension line(s)
    

  
  

• Minor malfunctions
  
  
  
  • Line twists
    
  • Premature brake release
    
  • Broken steering line
    
  • Steering line(s) won’t release
    
  • Pilot chute "under/over" problems
    
  • End cell closures
    

  
  

• Combination malfunctions
  
• Two canopies open
  
• Tandem jumping malfunctions
  
• Large ring and ripcord handle
  
• Change of emergency procedures
  
• Breakaway training
  
• Emergency priorities
  
• Canopy collisions
  

On Landing

• Turbulence
  
• Dust devils
  
• Thunderstorms
  
• The tree landing
  
• Power lines
  
• Water landings
  
• Buildings
  
• Other obstacles