SIGMA rig bulletin

[skydiverek 63]

Says it is from November, but there has been no mention of it before (on dropzone.com):

http://www.unitedparachutetechnologies.com/PDF/Support/Product%20Service%20Bulletins/Sigma-PSB-20111109-November-2011.pdf

It affects ALL Sigma rigs (sport tandem systems) - maybe make this post sticky?

[pchapman 279]

That's interesting.

Here's the intro for reference:

Quote

DATE: November 09, 2011 SERVICE BULLETIN #20111109 # OF PAGES: 3 SUBJECT: Inspection of the top diagonal attachment point on all Sigma Sport Tandem Systems.

It appears to be a new 'diagonals at the shoulders' stitching bulletin.

It's the first new UPT bulletin since their May 2011, which was this one:

Quote

DATE: May 23, 2011 SERVICE BULLETIN #20110523 # OF PAGES: 3
SUBJECT: Inspection of the top diagonal attachment point on all Vector 3 Sport and SE Student Harness/Container Systems.

So the old bulletin was for the single person rigs. They updated the single row of stitching after that, to go to the "E" shaped stitching-- like had already been used on the tandem rigs "for some time".

(From the bit I saw in the field, it seemed mainly big rigs that had stitching tear. Small sport rigs 10 years old had no problem, while I had to repair a couple 2 year old student rigs.)

Now the new bulletin shows a case where the "E" stitching ripped out completely on a Sigma. It had been well used (including a hard opening), and they also found that the stitch pattern on some rigs may not be as tight as they had intended (stitches per inch).

In practice at repacks, one is going to inspect that location on all rigs (although construction varies), and pay particular attention to UPT rigs.

[RIGGER 0]

Quote

DATE: May 23, 2011 SERVICE BULLETIN #20110523 # OF PAGES: 3
SUBJECT: Inspection of the top diagonal attachment point on all Vector 3 Sport and SE Student Harness/Container Systems.

When that SB came out on May 2011 I said that the Sigma tandem & V3 SE must be includeded.

This area issue is not new - you can see older V3's with many jumps & no issues & you can find newer V3's with less jumps that the 304 zz was broken in some way.

The diagonals 304 ZZ must be inspected at all time at I&R cycles by riggers & if the cycles are 180 / 360 days by the owner between cycles & if a hard deployment happened.

It is no matter if you have the old style 2 rows of 304 zz or the new style "E" 304 zz or 308 zz from UPT's loft the area must be inspected regardless of old or new mfg. method/stitches.

I hope that helps.