Skyhook clear plastic cover cracking

[pchapman 279]

This isn't a big deal, but I have found a clear plastic cover for the Skyhook's actual hook that got all cracked. An bit of a snag hazard.

It was the plastic cover below the hook that got cracked the most, around where the red lanyard formed a lump where it went around the hook.

The factory told me it has happened occasionally, that they have improved the plastic used. And they will send a rigger a few free covers if they need them.

These replacement covers have slots, so they can be slipped on. That way one doesn't have to completely take apart and resew the Skyhook system, something that UPT might get a little anxious about!

The replacement covers they sent don't seem all that special or anything, but should do the job. The necessary slots in the plastic form their own sharp corners but away from the actual hook & RSL loop area.

This happened on a rig just a couple years old, so it was the Skyhook version where one tacks through holes in the top and bottom cover. The early ones just had a top cover and one tacked through the bridle.

The rig was a small Micron with a PD106. I didn't look at exactly where the base of the pilot chute sits when well centered on that particular rig, but it may just press down on the Skyhook through flap 2A. And it probably doesn't help when a rigger is kneeling above the closing loop, on the pilot chute, when hauling up on the loop to close the rig. One could easily get some high localized forces on the Skyhook.

The factory gave me the impression from my questions that it was OK in the short term to just take any cracked covers off until one had the replacement ones available, doing the old style tacking-through-the-bridle, and packing it up that way. Sounds OK to me; the Skyhook is still well protected. But I don't claim that to be officially sanctioned.

[hackish 8]

I have seen one cracked in the past. I wasn't the rigger dealing with it so ultimately I don't know what was done. It was more one of those "ever seen this before - no but I wouldn't pack that - ok going to call UPT" type conversations.

-Michael

[RIGGER 0]

This is an old story with the Skyhook plastic.

I first reported about that to RWS / UPT short time after the skyhook went into service.

I found it in all sizes of the V3 & Sigma with Skyhook & even on the Skyhook 2.

The damage area was at the Red Lanyard area but also at other areas & might be a plastic quality issue.

All were replaced with the retrofit plastic from UPT which sent me the retrofits very fast.

Any Rigger packs skyhooks must have the
retrofits in the tools box.

Be Safe !!!