UPT Skyhook Rigging Error

[tdog 0]

I wanted to share with the rigging community a rigging error I became aware of regarding the UPT Skyhook.

Photos of a skyhook RSL lanyard are found on page 2:7 of this document: http://www.unitedparachutetechnologies.com/PDF/Support/Manual/09109(skyhPackIns).pdf

It is unknown, due to a missing packing data card, who assembled the rig, and who handled it - although indications are that it had 2 reserve packjobs by at least two different riggers.

I don't have a skyhook open in front of me to take actual photos of the error so I will have to describe...

The RSL lanyard as shown in the link above consists of black webbing with a red and white line attached to the lanyard. The red line, the skyhook attachment line, is larksheaded onto the RSL lanyard and can be removed, at least on the rig in question. I have assembled brand new UPT Vectors, and it is my recollection that this assembly is fully assembled by the factory when sent to the customer.

In the incident in question, the larkshead on the skyhook red line was around the white line, not the black lanyard, presumably sitting near the black RSL so it would appear at first glance to be correctly placed.

The rigger who completed the final I&R did not catch the mis-rigged lanyard. This was human error in failure to notice the incorrectly placed larkshead. The owner and rigger have been notified.

Due to the rig being sold "brand new" to a 2nd hand buyer a few years ago, it is impossible to know if the factory or 1st owner made the assembly mistake.

Result. The reserve ride was uneventful after line twists on the main causing a malfunction with a low reserve deployment due to the user's choice to try to fight the linetwists.

But the larkshead on the skyhook slid down the reserve pin white line on RSL activation, and the only thing that kept the red line attached to the white line was the ring at the end of the reserve pin being fatter than the cinched down larkshead loop. If the red line would have fallen off, the skyhook would have been disabled and the user's low reserve deployment would have been lower as the PC would have had to pull the reserve.

So long story short:

1) Riggers, inspect this connection point. I reviewed the manual at http://www.unitedparachutetechnologies.com/PDF/Support/Manual/09109(skyhPackIns).pdf, and while it has photos, it does not have specific steps in the instructions to inspect this assembly for assembly errors. In fact, it appears in the photo on page 2:7, even when zoomed into the point it is too choppy to view, that the red and white lanyards might be permanantly attached to the black lanyard with fingertrapped loops in the photo, while the middle photo on page 3:7 shows larksheads. The photo on 2:7 might imply that the assembly is permanantly assembled at the factory. If that is the case, as always, riggers never assume the factory has assembled anything correctly.

2) Skydivers, this is yet another reason why your harddeck should not be moved lower due to a safety system that can malfunction.

3) When you sell rigs used, send the packing data card... The rigger who missed the mistake on inspection was notified and took responsibility for the mistake in inspection - but the history of the rig is unknown so the rigger/factory who assembled it incorrectly will never be known.

[pchapman 280]

Was this with the 'single' black RSL tape, rather than the newer split RSL / Collins lanyard version which is optional on sport rigs?

(If the split version were a retrofit, it could explain how the whole system could have been re-assembled incorrectly when the new RSL part was sewn on or replaced as a whole.)

To confirm, the red line was larks headed purely onto the straight part of the white line?

Rather than being larks headed into the larks head of the white line? (Which is also incorrect, and could allow slippage, but not nearly as likely to do so or to slip as far.)

Both red and white line are supposed to be larks headed to the black RSL tape individually.

(Did some have the loops fingertrapped and sewn into place, as you also ask, based on the fuzzy photos?)

[tdog 0]

Pchapman,

Not split... Yes, on the white line.

[riggerrob 643]

Traditionally, reserve packing data cards are sold with the reserve canopy.

If any Service Bulletins were performed on the container, it would be wise to include a photo-copy (of the reserve packing data card) when you sell a container separately.
I know a few riggers who refuse to repack reserves if they lack written proof that all Service Bulletins, Airworthiness Directives, Technical Bulletins, etc. have been completed.
The only other way, is to research every SB, AD, TB, etc. ever written about that gear. Remember that not all the SBs are available electronicly, and not all riggers can understand all the SBs.

[tdog 0]

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Traditionally, reserve packing data cards are sold with the reserve canopy.

It is very rare that someone sells the container without a reserve, they seem to go as a set... But, the common practice with most skydiving components is that when it is sold used, you ship all the parts that came with it new...

Slinks with the canopy...
Risers, toggles, PCs, bridles, with the container...
Batteries, cutters, and etc with AAD...

Considering the reserve data card comes with the container, I see a lot of people leaving it with the container.

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If any Service Bulletins were performed on the container, it would be wise to include a photo-copy (of the reserve packing data card) when you sell a container separately.

You would think the manufactures would leave room on the serial number placard for SBs done to that component, so container SBs would be documented on the container and canopy SBs on the canopy, AAD SBs done on the AAD case... But, yes, I have had to many times start from scratch on gear because the packing data card was "lost"...

[riggerrob 643]

Warning, thread drift!

One of the Rigger As - that I trained - showed me another way to mis-assemble a Skyhook-equipped Vector.
It was assembled by a major loft in Southern California, but they routed the Cypres control head THROUGH the loop in the bottom of the black lanyard.
It might have hung-up during a low-speed cutaway, but a high-speed cutaway might have broken the Cypres cable!

My suggestion was to sew the loop smaller than a Cypres control head.
Has UPT changed the configuration on later Vector 3/Microns?

[theonlyski 8]

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My suggestion was to sew the loop smaller than a Cypres control head.
Has UPT changed the configuration on later Vector 3/Microns?

The loop on my rig (May 2010) is too small to (without MUCH work) put the control head thru it.

"I may be a dirty pirate hooker...but I'm not about to go stand on the corner." iluvtofly
DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890
I'm an asshole, and I approve this message

[piisfish 140]

Rob, would that not be only possible when installing an AAD with the Skyhook assembly already in place ?

Will have a look when I pack a next Vector, because I always either installed the AAD prior to assembling the rest of the rig, or repacked rigs with the AAD already in place.

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[riggerrob 643]

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Rob, would that not be only possible when installing an AAD with the Skyhook assembly already in place ? ...

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I suspect that the reserve was completely packed (signed, sealed, etc.), then someone re-routed the Cypres control head through the loop on the bottom end of the black lanyard.