PARACHUTIST'S DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20880, 23 May 1931, Page 12

PARACHUTIST'S DEATH.

FAULT OF EQUIPMENT. TYPE OF GEAR UNSUITABLE. PROHIBITION IN FUTURE. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] WELLINGTON. Friday. The Air Force Court of Inquiry which investigated the death of Lieutenant Haakon Q'Viller, the Noi rvegian parachutist who lost his lifo when his parachute failed to open during a descent at Oamaru on May 2, returned a formal verdict that death was caused by the parachutp not opening. Lieutenant ,Q'Viller fell from a height of 5400 feet. Squadron-Leader J. L. Findlay was president of the Court and associated with him were Flight-Lieutenant M. W Buckley and Flight-Lieutenant J. C. i Mercer. In announcing the Court's finding, the Minister of Defence, the Hon. J. G Cobbe, stated the Court was of the opinion that tho cause of the parachute failing to open was as follows: "When the bundle comprising the parachute rigging lines and cone Avas leleased, it unrolled normally to a point midway between the parachute proper and the cone. At this stage, the parachuto bundle dipped at one end, allowing one of the rigging lines to loop itself round the parachute in the form of a half-hitch. It is easily demonstrable that this is sufficient to prevent, the remainder of the bundle from unrolling. Indeed,, the stronger the pull exerted after this stage, the tighter would the cord become wrapped round the parachute. "It must be borno in mind," states the finding, "that the type of parachute used by deceased was not intended for making delayed opening descents. Nevertheless, it is patent that the danger of the parachute not opening is inherent in any form of parachute packed in this way, that is, with tho rigging lines wrapped round tho main parachute, and the Court recommends that the form of packing bo henceforth prohibited." The Minister stated it was not intended to permit the use of this form of parachute in New Zealand in future.