Lead Seals

[koppel 5]

I have heard stories second hand of lead seals being complicit in a couple of incidents.

One was a skydiver and another was a pilot. I am unable to source any information on the matter.

I expect these are urban myths however I would be interested in any information people may have on issues of using lead seals.

I have seen some footage of a seal being routed through the loop (possibly) causing the rig to lock when the handle was pulled.

Does anyone have any other info?

Cheers

I like my canopy...


...it lets me down.

[IanHarrop 43]

I found this using the search function

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3876565;search_string=lead%20seals;#3876565

"Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy

[koppel 5]

thank you. Yes that is the footage I was referring to in my post.

I spent some time trying different searches.

I like my canopy...


...it lets me down.

[JohnRich 4]

Quote

I have heard stories second hand of lead seals being complicit in a couple of incidents.
I expect these are urban myths...

There HAVE been a few documented instances of seals jamming in grommets and preventing canopy deployment.

[kingbunky 3]

i believe the issue was when there was enough slack in the seal thread, and the seal was positioned towards the grommet, it could get pulled into the grommet and jam stuff up.

keep the thread taut enough to prevent breakage during normal movements, and position the seal as far from the grommet as you can and you will minimize this risk.

"Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart."
MB4252 TDS699
killing threads since 2001

[airtwardo 7]

Between the Mercury Tuna and the Lead Seals...it's gettin' safer to stay home!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[727_Jumper 0]

interesting.

thanks for the heads up on another thing to check.

[fcajump 164]

Quote

i believe the issue was when there was enough slack in the seal thread, and the seal was positioned towards the grommet, it could get pulled into the grommet and jam stuff up.

keep the thread taut enough to prevent breakage during normal movements, and position the seal as far from the grommet as you can and you will minimize this risk.

Ever since reading this, and also wanting to keep enough slack to keep from breaking the threat the first time the pin moves 1/100th", I found a technique that works well on standard pins...

Back the pin off ~1/2 way,
String up the seal in the usual manner,
Slide seal almost all the way to where the thread is wrapped around the cable (too close and it will break the thread when the seal tries to set down under the top flap),
Press the seal with the thread TIGHT
Reset the pin such that the bevel is just outside the grommet.

This leaves enough slack in the thread to keep from breaking at the slightest movement and keeps the seal as far from the grommet as possible.

The ONLY rig that I still have the seal sitting closer to the grommet than I like is the Vector w/ RSL. (such as my own)

JW

Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

[koppel 5]

The grommet issue I had heard of.

The stories I heard were of the seal getting caught in hard housing and preventing pull. As I sad the were just stories but I figured that of there was any truth to them someone here might know.

Can anyone also show documentation for grommet/seal issues other than the video shown in the reply above?

I like my canopy...


...it lets me down.

[JohnRich 4]

Quote

Can anyone also show documentation for grommet/seal issues other than the video shown in the reply above?

I recall stories in Parachutist and Skydiving, but they've been a while, and were rare.

Here's one from this forum:
http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3535974;#3535534