Rating Corner: Carbon Monoxide: The Silent Killer in Piston Powered Jump Planes
Cessna piston-engine aircraft are the most common type of aircraft used by skydiving operations worldwide, which makes it critical to understand a significant but often overlooked hazard: carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. This colorless, odorless and tasteless gas is a byproduct of incomplete combustion in the engine and is a serious threat to the safety of everyone on board.
Equipping aircraft with a reliable carbon monoxide detector is not just a good idea—it’s a life-saving necessity.
What is the Danger?
Carbon monoxide can enter the aircraft cabin primarily through defects in the exhaust system or cabin heating system, particularly when the heating is in use. A cracked muffler, a faulty exhaust stack slip joint, or a hole in the firewall can all be pathways for this toxic gas to leak into the cabin.
CO is dangerous because it binds to the hemoglobin in your blood more readily than oxygen, effectively displacing it and preventing your tissues, particularly your brain and heart, from getting the oxygen they need. This leads to tissue hypoxia.
For pilots and skydivers, the symptoms of CO exposure can be devastating. They mimic common ailments or mild altitude sickness, making them incredibly hard to recognize in the air. Common symptoms include headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and confusion. If exposure continues, it can lead to incapacitation or death, which in an aircraft, will almost certainly result in a catastrophic accident. Studies estimate that CO poisoning contributes to a small but significant percentage of fatal aviation accidents.
For skydivers, the risk is compounded by the pre-jump environment. Altitude exposure, adrenaline and stress are all natural physiological responses that can mask early symptoms of CO poisoning. Mild CO symptoms like fatigue, headache, or poor concentration—if not recognized—could impair a skydiver’s ability to safely check their gear, maintain body position or perform emergency procedures. The potential for loss of consciousness or significant cognitive impairment just before or after the jump door opens is a risk no one should ever take.
The key to prevention is a reliable CO detection system. Because CO is impossible to detect without equipment, a detector offers the only early warning and is a low-cost, high-value safety investment. Aircraft owners have several practical options, with varying degrees of sophistication and cost.
♦ Location: The instrument panel is generally considered the best location for detector placement to ensure effective detection.
♦ Alarm Threshold: To maximize the chance of detecting a hazard and to compensate for CO distribution throughout the cabin, it is recommended to set the alarm threshold lower, typically at 35 parts per million (ppm), which is below the FAA standard of 50 ppm.
Key Considerations for Aircraft Use
For the demanding skydiving environment, CO detectors that use electrochemical sensors are generally the most suitable, as they offer the best balance of accuracy, quick response time and low susceptibility to false alarms. A high-quality CO detector should be a non-negotiable part of any piston jump plane’s safety gear. Pair it with regular exhaust and cabin heating system maintenance for the best defense against this silent killer.
A functioning, properly placed detector provides the pilot with a secondary layer of defense against exhaust system failure. An immediate alert can prompt the pilot to take corrective action, such as shutting off the heat, increasing ventilation or descending to a safer altitude, protecting everyone from a fatal outcome.
A Call to Action
For every drop zone operator, pilot and skydiver:
Pilot and Staff Training: Ensure everyone is trained to recognize the symptoms of CO poisoning and the procedures to follow when the CO alarm sounds.
Regular Maintenance: Adhere to or exceed the manufacturer's recommendations for inspecting and maintaining the exhaust and heating systems, as this is the primary prevention method.
Install and Test: Invest in a quality, electrochemical CO detector, install it according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, and test it regularly before flight.
The lives of every skydiver and pilot depend on being proactive about safety. Make a CO detector a mandatory piece of equipment on all piston jump planes.
Michael Knight D-22804
USPA Director of Government Relations