My first cutaway!

[christopherm 0]

This is a story of my first cutaway.
I started skydiving on July 14th with my friend Scott. He and I both had always wanted to do it and now that we were both 18, why not? We started off doing the intro AFF jump and then switched over to static line progression for the sake of money.
It is now August 25th and I am doing my 8th jump. I am one jump ahead of Scott but he is one level ahead of me. My last jump was my first actual hop-n-pop and I exited unstable. I have to do that level over again. Scott is doing his first 10-second delay.
As the plane goes on call and we start getting ready, my nerves really hit me. I have been thinking about my dive going perfectly all night last night and this morning. I do the same as we wiggle into the jumpsuits and get our rigs on. To make my nerves even worse, our jumpmaster this time is the DZ owner, Jim Cowan. “Gee, I better do this right,” I tell myself.
We board the cozy little Cessna and take off. The whole way up, I have my eyes closed, visualizing my jump going perfect. Then all of a sudden, “DOOR!” yells Jim, and it is time to go. I put my feet out on the step and look back at Jim. He then tells me to go all the way out. There I am, hanging from the strut of a Cessna and trying to arch before I let go. I look in towards Jim and he gives me the thumbs up. I look up at the red dot on the wing and let go.
As soon as I let go I de arch. I’m thinking about how badly I suck as I pull my ripcord. I am tumbling as my parachute opens and at some point in that process, I stick my right arm right through the lines. I knew something was wrong judging by the amount of pain in my armpit and the position of my body in the harness. I look up at the canopy and see the whole right side is pulled down and I immediately start going into a hard right spin.
Now I’m thinking a few different things:
1. Am I really having my first malfunction?
2. I can’t believe I was just talking about this last night!
3. Haha, I had mine before Scott.
4. Oh shit, I’m having a malfunction!
I didn’t even know where to begin to start getting the lines untangled with my arm. I tried to pull on the lines but they were pulled tight from the spinning. I messed with it for about 20 seconds before I realized I hadn’t been paying attention to my altimeter. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway because I didn’t remember the altitude that I had to pull my reserve by. So I puckered up, looked at my cutaway handle, grabbed it, looked at my reserve cord, and then cutaway. My reserve had started opening before I even pulled the reserve handle because of the RSL. I was soon looking at the most beautiful white parachute I had ever seen. I was lucky that the main slipped off my arm so easily or the RSL would have meant certain death or severe injury.
I thought I would be a little more relaxed about malfunctions now that I have had one, but it doesn’t help any. I realize how much time I had to think about this one. Hopefully I will have much more experience before I ever have another.
-Blue Skies

[chopchop 0]

Wow, Christopher! nasty one. I know you have probably heard this a few times but next time go RSL release, cutaway, reserve. You got lucky. Glad to hear you're ok.
chopchop
PD makes canopies all day long, you only have one life, when in doubt, cut away...

[mouth 0]

Sounds like you managed to save yourself, and learn something too.
OH, don't forget BEER and your rigger!!

[FallingMarc 0]

Amazing how many things can run through your head all at once, huh? You made it through okay, now just remember to relax and arch!
Marc

[ShortBus 0]

"""Wow, Christopher! nasty one. I know you have probably heard this a few times but next time go RSL release, cutaway, reserve. You got lucky. Glad to hear you're ok."""
i am a low time jumper myself but from what i understand most students are jumping with a S.O.S reserve system i dont see how he could disconnect his rsl and pull the handle and not get the delayed deployment of his reserve. Would when he pulled the shiny handle with or without an rsl cutaway his main and pull his reserve?
but hey what do i know im just some punk kid =)
Dan-
"get on the bus"

[FallinWoman 1]

I actually think that where Chris jumps is two handle from the get-go, so he could have disconnected.
And Chris, Jim can be a bit intimidating, can't he??
Sounds like you did great!! You found yourself in a bad situation and kept your head until you cleared it! Way to go!

[PhreeZone 20]

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but next time go RSL release, cutaway, reserve.

No!! If you have to disconnect the RSL to pull your reserve you should'nt have it attached in the first place.
On most student gear the RSL is rigged so that its not possible to do a quick release like it is on sport gear. If you would try and release the RSL on it you could spend your entire life trying to get it off. On student gear you should never un-attach anything without express consent of the rigger maintaining the gear. If you disconnect the RSL to jump it and the next student grabs the rig, misses the RSL in the gear check and goes in because he only cut away thinking the RSL would save them, how would you feel?
He did the correct emergency procedues for his situation.
If you are going to jump with an RSL you need to know the situations that the RSL could help and harm you in. If you are going to disconnect it just make sure you trust your emergency procedures. There has been more then one fatality due to the jumper never pulling the reserve handle after a cutaway. On the other hand an RSL was probally one of the causes of a recent fatality in Alabama.
The rule of thumb that I was taught and the one that I pass on for an RSL is:
Use it if you are unsure of your emergency procedues, never had a cutaway, just converted to a new container/system, converted to a new deployment ststem, or are new/lack currency or jump sledom.
Don't use one if you are jumping an Elliptcal canopy, a heavly loaded canopy, skysurfing, jumping a camera, doing CReW, jumping in heavy winds, jumping a Wingsuit,doing speed dives, or if you trust your procedues to the point that you fully realize that you must pull the handles to live.
If any one wants more details I encourage you to make a post in the gear fourm asking about RSL's.
I personally dont use one (220 jumps / 0 cutaways) because I have been switching canopies so often that most risers that I use don't have the hook up for the RSL. With my current canopy I loan the rig out and the RSL gets hooked back up before I give it to any one that does'nt meet my specs to disconnect it. If you want to complain, I'll take the rig back.
Now that I'm looking at jumping a Camera I'm not even going to re-attach the RSL at my next Reserve repack. This means that my rig is'nt getting loaned out any more.(Plus the new canopy, a Cobalt/Stiletto, not many jumpers would want to jump in my rig anyways.)
Be safe, be smooth, be fast..... and most importantly.... be phree

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[PLFKING 4]

Sorry, but I have to respectfully disagree with you on this one. As a student, I was taught that the only time you ever touch the disconnect is just prior to final approach, if the winds are high. (of course, this idea is subject to change once you gain experience -- I don't even jump with an RSL now...).
As a static-line student on a hop-n-pop, Chris probably exited at 3500 ft...if the whole right side of his canopy was collapsed, and he was into a hard spin, then he was losing altitude quickly (and messed with it for 20 seconds, I think he said)....I think he followed procedures correctly (if maybe a little slowly !), and did exactly the right thing.
As a student, you should always listen to your JM. The USPA has developed their training processes over a long span of years...what they teach is what has been proven to work in the vast majority of cases, as it did in yours......
Don
ps....sorry, Phree, but I posted before I saw your reply...good points you brought up.
Chris, I hope you aren't getting confused by all of this -- the procedures are taught this way because it has proven to be the most reliable and safest way to train new students. I suggest you talk to your JM before your next jump if you have any questions or concerns.

[Aviatrr 0]

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With my current canopy I loan the rig out and the RSL gets hooked back up before I give it to any one that does'nt meet my specs to disconnect it. If you want to complain, I'll take the rig back.

What exactly are your specs to disconnect an RSL? I, personally, don't have one on either of my rigs, and if I jump a rig WITH an RSL, I disconnect it. I don't loan my rigs to anybody that I feel should be jumping with an RSL - but, then again, I don't really know anybody that I feel should definitely be jumping with an RSL. Students, yes - but my canopies are not suitable for them anyways, so it's a moot point.
I do not like RSL's, but I feel they DO have their uses - albeit very limited. I do believe that students should be using an RSL - but beyond that, it is the individual's choice. There are situations where an RSL should be disconnected prior to cutting away, if time permits. Two out comes to mind.
Mike

[FallingMarc 0]

This is why I don't jump with an RSL... I can't think of ANY situation where I would pull right and not follow with pulling left. And I don't want to have to worry, in a malfunction situation, about "do I have to disconnect first or not". Too much complexity in emergency procedures.
Marc

[PhreeZone 20]

Since I've got a Spectre 170, PD 160R and a Cypres, most smaller people just off student status/ pre A licence, get sent my way when they are ready for a ZP jump. I have a JM go over the differences in the canopys, the fight differences and stuff. The RSL gets hooked up for these people.
I disconnect it for anyone that I trust their judgement. There are a few people that have 100-130 jumps that I won't loan the rig to because I don't trust them but then there are others with 15 jumps that I trust with my baby.
My general spec is 50 jumps and knowledge about the RSL. If the jumper is heads up then I'm cool with them disconnecting it. Other wise is getting clipped on before they get the rig. When it lands it still better be on or they never see the rig again.
Be safe, be smooth, be fast..... and most importantly.... be phree

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[jfields 0]

I'm in that middle range where I'm off student status, but I wouldn't call myself an "experienced" jumper.
I feel like I'm in a 12-step program...
"My name is Justin. I have 44 jumps and I use an RSL."
Intellectually, I know to pull red, then silver, regardless of whether I have an RSL. But I'm sure some of the no-pull fatalities "knew" what to do also. They just didn't do it.
I'll probably leave it on for now, until I do something (CRW, big-ways, camera, etc.) that requires me to disconnect it. Or if I have a cutaway myself and end up with a pulled silver handle, then I'd know I was okay to disconnect.
I'm sure there are scenarios where having it is a risk, but for now I think the benefits outweigh. Does anyone see any gaping flaws in my logic?
Justin
My Homepage

[PLFKING 4]

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Does anyone see any gaping flaws in my logic?

Not in my book. Sounds like you know all the facts, and are doing what you feel is best for you and your circumstances. What more could a person ask for than to be fully informed, responsible, and in control of his / her own life and pursuits ?
Don

[freeflir29 0]

Here are my .02 cents.
FUCK AN RSL!!!!!
They are great for students. Most of the situations I.E. Hard spinning mals are almost impossible on student mains. A reserve ride will be no differen't than when I left the plane the first time. I'm pullin the damn handle.
"The sky resembles a back lit canopy...with holes punched through it"- Incubus
Clay

[jumpervali 2]

The debate over rsl's have been going on as long as I've been jumping and before that. As a licensed jumper rsl is a choice, but the USPA mandates rsl's on student equipment period. The advice your getting about adding a rsl disconnection to your emergency procedures is WRONG. There are more saves made (for) students by rsl's than not. The rsl and aad is to be considered as backups only, so do your procedures as normal always. Things can happen to a young jumper that can cause serious problems if they break from their training. Temporal distortion, sensory overload, and improper procedures cause more injury or deaths than rsl's ever will. Young jumpers retraining students is very dangerous. The licensed jumper is more prepared (I hope) than the student to remain calm and focused in the event of making a more complex decision about their emergency procedure protocols. Think of it like a 17 year old giving advice to a 15 year old about how to drive. The need to clear a malfunctioning main is important, but below 1000 feet just deploying your reserve is what is taught to be proper procedure. Why? More fabric. Bottom line is until your off student status follow only your instructors information, and avoid clouding your mind with more advanced procedures. Glad to hear your OK!
jumpervali sl/aff/tandem-i s&ta

[PhreeZone 20]

On the topic of RSL's, we had this discussion again on Sunday at the DZ. One of the JM's was telling us about an exprienced jumper (700+ jumps) that had a hard opening and it dazed him but he saw hit was a line over and the jumper cutaway. When the jumper landed he was still dazed from the opening (Sabre slam) and was looking for his main and freebag. As he was talking about the mal he said he saw the mal, cutaway and pulled the reserve. The JM's were looking at him and the silver handle was never moved. The RSL was clearly a life saver since the jumper did'nt have an AAD. So even if you KNOW what to do sometimes you are'nt in a position to follow through on those thoughts. Just something to keep in mind when you can make that decision for your self.
Be safe, be smooth, be fast..... and most importantly.... be phree

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[jfields 0]

Phree,
Thanks for relaying that story. Another thing for me to think about.
Justin
My Homepage

[FallingMarc 0]

That's interesting... and I know there are deaths from cutaway/no reserve pull too. But the way I see it, if I have the presence of mind to cutaway, I still don't see how I would not pull the reserve. I also do reserve drills every time I gear up, I want it to be ingrained in my head in case I am in a state of shock or whatever. Granted I don't really know how I will react, my only cutaway has been on an SOS rig--but I know that at least in that case, I was fully conscious of what I was doing.
Blue skies and unending debates,
Marc

[chopchop 0]

Ooops, sorry all. My bad. I paid total attention to the fact that he had lines tangled on his body and forgot he was a student. As a more experienced jumper, I would not want my reserve opening until I cleared myself of the lines and the attached canopy. As a student probably freaking out a little at his first mal, you guys are right, don't mess with stuff you don't understand. You did good Christopher.
chopchop
PD makes canopies all day long, you only have one life, when in doubt, cut away...