Caravan 208B
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 80; Flight Crew Total 2800; Flight Crew Type 800
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Human Factors
At the loading area; one jumper approached pilot door got my attention and signaled for a low/hop and pop jump for himself. During boarding I did notice a few solo jumpers (5 total). Thought to myself they were going to go to altitude with the tandem jumpers. Uneventful departure and climbout; and then I lined up for this low altitude jump about 2 plus miles out (from Drop Zone (DZ)). I observed parachutes in the air; called other caravan; and he reported all chutes below 3K; so I communicated this back to jumpers to look for them. Approximately 1.5 miles before DZ I heard the door open; we were passing through 4;000. I called UNICOM; jumpers in 1 minute. I am waiting for communication from the back of aircraft for course corrections and flaps (spotter calls flaps- is my queue to Flaps 20 and power back ~300-700 LBS Tq). About 10 seconds after door opens- I hear a jumper leave; I thought it was only the one going; but then; not sure but think I hear second one go; I then start to reduce power and to ask what's up to jumper in right seat. Then another jumper leaves and I feel the thump and same time I hear the yell from the back - 'someone just hit the tail.'I quickly think it better to lighten load for landing so; I tell remaining jumpers to prepare to exit if they want. They say OK they can jump. I redline up and about over the landing area; I get call - 'Flaps' - flaps 20 and power back 500 LBS; let them out about 6;000 FT. Two jumpers stay in aircraft and land with me. Uneventful landing.I did find out there was a video; and after observing it I see that jumper that contacted the aircraft was 3rd out and a 4th jumper left the aircraft; too. I did not feel this or realize this till late the next day. Hearing/feeling a single jumper leave is not that noticeable on CG; and time between first guy out and last out is only 15-20 seconds.Jumper that contacted the horizontal stabilizer landed under a reserve parachute in a field near the airport. Reserve was opened by automatic opening device.
Cessna 208 jump pilot reports a jumper hitting the horizontal stabilizer when a jump is initiated without informing the pilot. The flaps were up and the engine was at climb power. Apparently unconscious the jumpers reserve chute open automatically at low altitude.