I almost had a parachute in my prop, near miss

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bahama flier

Pre-takeoff checklist
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Jan 15, 2014
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Deland, Florida
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bahama flier
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KDED
In Deland, a big skydive business is on my Airport. I commend the owners for building a big business, but they are a big pain in the ass.

I was trying to hook up the proper vac lines for an air speed indicator, and did not hook them up right. I had departed for a quick check, and saw the indicator had failed, so I circled to land.

It was very windy, and no airspeed indicator, so I landed fast to avoid any chance of a stall.

Alongside the runway I was using is the landing area for skydiver beginners. I had landed and was doing a long roll out because of my landing speed. I was approaching the end of the runway when some jumpers had landed and the wind had caught their chutes and was dragging them across my runway.

I was almost on top of two chutes, the jumpers were looking at me horrified like the end was in sight. I looked at them and had the same conclusion.

I don't know where there were more skid marks on the runway or in my shorts, both had plenty. We all cleared and we all were shaken up but lived for another day.
 
I've never understood the logic behind putting an LZ right next to active runways.
 
Was at KSUT a few years back. There were divers landing all over the airport. Planes had to land between drops.
 
I sometimes get gas at an airport with lotsa jump activity.

Decided long ago if there is ever a situation like this I will pull the mixture, kill my engine, to minimize the possibility of hurting someone.

If a chute or lines ever hit my prop, I do not want it to be spinning!
 
If the prop is Turning ,and you tangle a chute,or lines,the engine is going to suffer some major damage. All of Fla is one big drop zone,have to be careful out there.
 
Sac Arrow said:
I've never understood the logic behind putting an LZ right next to active runways.
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My understanding is that they want to reduce turnaround time between jumps so that they can get more jumps in per day. Other issue is probably liability - not easy finding a property owner willing to allow landing of sky divers.
 
Why did you fly your airplane so close to skydivers under canopy?

I fly out of a drop zone all the time and if that jump plane is in the air I know where it's at. I know when the jumpers jump and I know how many are falling. I know where they'll be falling and I see and avoid them with a very large safety margin. If that means I leave the pattern for a bit I do.

Pay attention, see and avoid, it's your responsibility. If skydivers were touching down close enough to the runway to potentially be dragged onto the runway there is no way I'd be landing on it.
 
At Deland most skydivers land in the corner of the airport near the office/hangar. Middle of the airport is used for students. Lots of room in the middle of the airport.
Why not ground test your airspeed indicator first? If you think you need lots of speed without one maybe some dual with it covered is in order.
 
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I did a a few jumps as a student in Snohomish, WA, north of Seattle, years ago. The experienced jumper landing area is on the airport. I believe that was for B, C, and D license holders but not sure.

Anyway, the student area was somewhere around 5 miles away. We got picked up by the DZ bus. Turnaround time was very long and it took awhile just to get back because of traffic. Painful, costly and deterring to people that want to jump there.

Just my .02


ETA: From Skydive Snohomish website "We have two landing areas. C and D-license holders may land at the airport (after receiving a briefing) and all other jumpers and students land at the alternate field ("East Field", approximately ¾ of a mile east of the airport). Licensed jumpers approaching their 200th jump must complete an accuracy jump worksheet proving abilities like spotting, vertical separation, smooth pattern, accuracy, and stand-up landings prior to clearance for landing at the airport. We provide free transportation back to the DZ from the East Field."

So it felt like 5 miles. :)

David
 
I guess I did not put enough details in my short story, I was on the designated landing runway, The wind caused the inexperienced jumpers to land away from the DLZ for them, they were dragged to the runway by the wind and could not collapse their chutes.

I cannot test an airspeed instrument unless I am in the air, a long roll out is not a problem, I had a mile of runway and only used the rest for a roll and was nearing my turn off with the chutes came by.

I did not see the chutes come down, only when they crossed in from of me, I usually just watch the runway when I am on it going .
 
I almost got wiped out by the towplane at FDK when I was making an emergency landing there (back before they added the idiotic control tower that makes things even worse).
 
bahama flier said:
I was trying to hook up the proper vac lines for an air speed indicator, and did not hook them up right. ......
Click to expand...


Glad it all worked out ok for both you and the meatbombs....:yes:...

The airspeed indicator uses static and pitot pressure information.. NOT vacuum.....:no::no::nono:....

I assume you were working on an experimental, cause if it was a certified plane..... the FAA wants to talk to you...:rolleyes::yikes:
 
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