SCARY! (my PC loose in the plane)!

[AggieDave 6]

Yep, like the title said, my PC came out of the BOC while I was climbing out of the door in our 182 today. Before I explain that, let me give you the background.

I was jumping one of the DZ rigs yesterday, practicing for a demo flying a banner into a raceway today, so I had this *huge* rig on (Navigator 300 in a student Vector II), which is pretty wide. I was sitting with my back to the control panel (aka Student postion...) 5k, time to go. I turn, it takes some shifting around since I have a banner folded up and tucked under my chest strap with a weight in it that I'm also holding. During the moving, the plastic hackey for the PC catches on the flap handle (the handle that looks like an emergancy break infront of the fuel selector, next to the pilot) and stays there. I'm climbing out of the plane, half way on the step when I feel someone pull on my rig. Todd, the DZO/S&TA has grabbed my rig. I turn to look at him and notice him diving (as well as you can in a full 182) for my PC. He gets it and unlodges it from the flap handle. I'm already out of the plane, so it's not a very good idea for me to try to get back into the plane AND he just happens to be an IAD instructor. So after I yell "Holy Fuck" he nods at me, I climb out and do an IAD jump. Just like back when I was on Static Line. Had a nice opening, deployed the banner, flew around and landed dead center of the target for the practice.

So, thanks to Todd's quick thinking (as well as the other two jumpers on the load that saw it and were yelling at me/Todd, since they couldn't get to it), everything turned out very well and everyone on the DZ had a nice Saftey Day-esq lesson on loose pilot chutes emergancies.

Why did this happen?
I was not used to that rig, as large as it was and the thought had never crossed my mind. Since I was preoccupied with a banner in my chest strap, I wasn't as anal as I normally am about my handles and I hadn't sat up on my knees to check eveything before I climbed out.

Lesson Learned.
Never jump a large canopy/rig (just kidding)...Seriously, no matter what is going on around you, mind your handles. Also, know what is around in in the aircraft that could potentally snag something. Furthermore, know your aircraft emergancies. If I hadn't been outside of the plane when this happened, we would have contained the PC, closed the door and landed with the plane.
And most importantly: Watch out for your fellow jumpers!

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[JohnnyD 0]

Dave - glad you came through it OK. I will be looking forward to someday drinking out of your keg on 10 Nov. (Look it up if you have to.)

BTW - Was that you FIRST demo????????

[AggieDave 6]

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BTW - Was that you FIRST demo????????

Strangely enough, no, but it was my first IAD and my first banner jump...
(I'll be drunk with some of my active duty buddies the weekend of the 10th...)

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[DickMcMahon 0]

You just scared the hell out of me man!
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[freeflir29 0]

Thats livin dangerously!!! Glad it worked out.

[flyhi 24]

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I was jumping one of the DZ rigs yesterday, practicing for a demo flying a banner into a raceway today, so I had this *huge* rig on (Navigator 300 in a student Vector II), which is pretty wide.

Dave, your profile says you have about 200 jumps. Does this mean you got a PRO rating at 200 jumps, or did you not need one for this demo? Someone tried to explain it to me once and it sounded like you only need a PRO rating going into a stadium or other such facility. I could look it up, but would be afraid I would then have to report myself for some of the demos I have done (beach, police station, polo field,...).

Anyway, nice job handling this. Once again you demonstrated that keeping a cool head is the best course of action when things go south.

Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

[freeflir29 0]

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Does this mean you got a PRO rating at 200 jumps, or did you not need one for this demo?

You only need a C license for a lot of demos. The Pro rating comes in when the landing area is small and technical. Don't know the size requirements off the top of my head. The USPA came up with the Pro rating to appease the FAA.

[skymut 0]

Very glad everything came out okay. That's one thing I don't care for when jumping a 182 is that when there are 4 jumpers in it (and there almost always is), you are packed in like sardines - you just kinda have to 'feel' that the handles are in place. Bigger rides you can usually have someone else give it a visual as well. Glad everyone else was watching, and took action.

Matt
A well-informed person is somebody who has the same views and opinions as yours.

[sunshine 2]

Just thinking about that freaks me out. Good to hear everything is okie dokie.

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[Pammi 0]

Good to hear everything was okay! It's so great the way we can keep an eye out for each other

[Skyrose7 0]

I had the exact same thing happen to me. I was sitting student position and my hackey got caught under the flap handle. Didn't check before I started leaving and just as I am climbing out I felt someone grab and pull me back in. The pilot caught it in time, thank God. It was almost completely out.
I sure learned my lesson. ALways be aware of where your handles are and always check it before you get out. Now, I check it about...oh, 6 or 7 times on the way to altitude and before I get out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The mind is like a parachute--it works better when it is open. JUMP.
MaryRose

[AggieDave 6]

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or did you not need one for this demo?

Didn't need one for this jump due to the size of the landing area, the number of people there and a handful of other things that I can't remember right now, so lil'ol me could do it.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[bbarnhouse 0]

Aggie Darlin' so glad that you are ok. Good lesson to learn albeit the hard way. I still owe you a massage.....and cause I luv ya, I'll give one to your SO as well for scaring the shit out of her
Cheers Babay!

[goose491 0]

Glad to hear it turned out all right
A pilot chute loose in the plane is probably the thing I fear most! Good thing it never found it's way out the door before you

My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!