The word "chopper" is probably quite apt in the context - unless the design is utterly foolproof it's probably what will happen to the parachute !
I've flown with light aircraft systems a few times, and dealt with the design of a couple of trial installations. Whilst I agree that they're pretty simple, they're also remarkably lightweight. Something like
this would handle the speed and energy (if not the rotor) of a typical small helicopter and masses 34 lb.
You could blow the rotors off of-course, but that's arguably a little extreme.
G
