Nasty opening = time to reline???

[JanuszPS 0]

Hi there,
Some time ago (about over 2 months) when I was in Zhills I had two very hard openings. Due to the weather conds first jumps were from lower alt, therefore after 3s delay I pulled and got slammed hard by the canopy. Next jump was even worst, after full freefall and belly down positioned opening I got really hard one, harder than the first earlier. My body was moving to the left (I had that felling) while canopy was turning right at the opening. I was compressed into the harness. The crushing forces were quite significant and the reserve handle (D type) broken my left rib. In addition I was a little bit dizzy, my neck was "whacked" (hardly), all left side ribs hurt at the sternum and some pain in my upper spine. I didn’t feel very bad just after accident, than I did another 4 jumps that day. Sometimes I think that I have slightly different feeling what "hard" opening is, comparing to others.
My canopy is Cobalt 135 and WL 1.4. I bought it with approx 200 jumps on it. I made on it till that opening about 40-50 jumps.
My first canopy was Cayenne 170 with quite normal openings, second was Sabre 2 150 which disappointed me with the flying (sinking) characteristic and not nice openings at all, however good canopy to learn landings. Then cobalt arrived and that was beautiful! I was amazed with nice, soft, on heading, consistent openings. Just after the accident when I jumped it first time, the same day, I closed eyes expecting the worst while pulling out, but surprisingly the opening was so soft that it didn’t caused any pain in my crushed body at all. Little and constant tension in the harness during entire deployment. The sweetest which could be.
My question is what could cause such hard openings twice in a row!?
I consider myself as a safe and careful packer. I only had one hard opening which was a result of rush during packing on my Cayenne 170. Since that 100 “normal” Sabre 2 openings, with 90 deg turns to left or right with some “strong accent” at the early stage of opening. And all except those two nice on cobalt. I always pack myself.
I measured the lines comparing with the lines chart which I found on the forum. Could possibly the lines be a reason of those two openings with some other small error (packing)?
Does the canopy require relining?
What would be the option with relining?
Is H-mod improving openings?
Where can I do reline/H-mod, and for how much?
Which lines would you recommend me (spectra/vectran)?
I’m a big fan of Galvanor and I don’t consider of changing the type of the canopy/fabric. I also love Cobalt’s nice openings which I usually have on it. The way which it flies and flare is amazing. No other problems with the canopy at all – expect small slow turn after opening caused by shorter left steering line (by 1.5 cm).
I’ll be grateful for all answers/opinions.
Regards
JanuszPS
Edit - attachments added
Edit 2:
I eliminate poor body position, anyway, what is poor body position in hop and pop with max 3s delay??? I can't really imagine it.
Tracking and slowing down is not a problem for me. Anyway, full track should not be a problem for any canopy otherwise guys with wing suits would be in big troubles.

Back to Poland... back home.

[Broke 0]

You know there isn't only one cause for hard openings. However there are things you can do to prevent hard openings. I am sure if you did a search you could come up with a lot of threads. You mentioned that you measured the lineset, yet you didn't compair your findings to what they should be, or at least you didn't let us know.

From your story it sounds as if you only had two very positive openings on your canopy, and then you continued to jump it. Could you have had poor body positioning on one or both of the jumps? Perhaps not slowing down enough after a track? Just a couple of ideas to put out there. Also are you using your legs to help to distribute the shock from the opening. That will make the world of differance.

Divot your source for all things Hillbilly.
Anvil Brother 84
SCR 14192

[VectorBoy 0]

Hello Jan,
I have two cobalts, one H-mod one plain. To explain why two bad openings in a row and then back to noramal, well you may have not had the slider all the way against the stops. Possible. The nose of the slider pushed too far back into the pack job, another possibility. Things can change when you lay your pack down regardless how well you maintained control before.

For me the biggest variable in how fast and hard my cobalts open is to play with how tight I wrap the tail around the lines. This way I can tailor if I want a soft opening during freefall or a faster one for subterminal wingsuit deployments. I always just leave the nose even with the slider front. No pushing it back into or pulling the slider out from the center of the pack.

In regards to the H-mod yes it will snivel much, much longer, too much for some people. But before you consider it you must fix your differential line lengths as the h-mod snivels long enough that you can spin and twist up your canopy during the snivel before it ever fully opens.

[JanuszPS 0]

I take into account small error during packing, however this should not effect with such horrible openings. Otherwise I should experienced that earlier on Sb2 or Cayenne.
But my question now is: do the lines require to be changed? Please see attachments.
Regs
Janusz

Back to Poland... back home.

[VectorBoy 0]

Talk to a rigger who is able to make lines in the loft about the lines, I saw your specs. You can always email Stane at attair.

[JanuszPS 0]

Could some rigger give me an opinion on the shape of the lines? Do the need to be relined?
Regards
Janusz

Back to Poland... back home.

[Shepp 0]

Quote

Also are you using your legs to help to distribute the shock from the opening. That will make the world of differance.

Forgive the noob for asking - and not to hijack the thread - but can you explain what you mean by that and/or technique? The Solo 230 I have been jumping doesn't so much have an opening 'shock' as an opening 'thump'...

Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward.

Accidents don't just happen. They must be carelessly planned.

[JanuszPS 0]

Just an update:
after experiencing another hard one (very painful) I decided to reline the canopy.
Last week I received it back from Stane (Atair Slovenia) and I tried it 7 times in a row.
What a beautiful canopy to deploy. Wonderful, soft and predictable openings. What a relief. It was worth the money to be spent on it. Basically a new canopy.
So if you experience something like me don't wait too long and change the lines.
regards
Janusz

Back to Poland... back home.

[NickDG 23]

Bigger canopies are far more forgiving to lines going out of trim than smaller canopies. Lines go out of trim (trim being the lengths they were when they left the factory) by either becoming longer or shorter. The lines that contact your slider grommets shrink from the heat generated by the descending slider. The other lines stretch just from the loads put on them by normal openings.

With smaller canopies the problem creates off heading openings that can lead to lines twists that sometimes must be cutaway, and sometimes, like the OP said it can affect the openings by making them harder.

Keep in mind, however, that any canopy can open hard, for reasons that are hard to determine. Sometimes it can be the slider starts down before the canopy begins to spread, or bag strip, etc.

That 230 of yours will probably spank you sooner or later but just take it in stride and know now you're good for awhile.

But a lot of canopies, like my Stiletto needs new lines every three to four hundred jumps. Your 230 if you pack on a mat and look after it and baring any damage could possible go a 1000 jumps without you noticing any differance in openings. In fact of the lines are Dacron and the fabric is not ZP, but F111, the opening will get even softer over time . . .

Edit to add: Opps, didn't fully read your question, never mind the lesson!

NickD