A ballistic parachute from an ultralight that had been collected as part of a spring clean-up exploded as a public-works employee was sorting materials, causing injuries to his hand, a Pennsylvania newspaper reported this week. The 25-year-old worker, in New Garden Township, suffered a “serious but non-life-threatening injury to his left hand” on Monday, according to the Daily Local. Officials said they would review surveillance tapes to try to determine who dropped off the device. Ballistic chutes are deployed with rocket fuel and first responders are trained to treat them with care.
BRS, which makes most of the ballistic parachutes used in the U.S. market, provides instructions to rescue crews for disabling an unused chute at an accident scene. Owners of the systems are advised to contact the company for instructions on how to safely disassemble and dispose of the rocket when it’s time for replacement.
