RemiAndKaren 0 #1 August 28, 2001 Hi all,Since this weekend had a few incident, I'll share mine too... you never know who it might benefit.First: no one was hurt and no plane damaged in the making of the incident (except a spider who was in the plane on the ride to altitude...).It was a 10 way out of a Cessna Caravan. That particular plane had a roll up Plexiglas door and a floating handle on the inside of the door. The handle is a pretty good diameter size, which makes the incident more puzzling...On me: I'm tall (6'2"), Reflex rigFirst, what I felt:I was first diver from behind the red line. On the count, started to walk to the door, and dove out. As I was passing though the door, I felt I hit my back on the edge of the door (the way the float handle is positioned, it would have been it that I hit). I felt some resistance, but nothing extremely out of the ordinary. Anyways, I get out of the door start my dive, and feel a tug from behind, look up , and see a yellow canopy starting to inflate, look down, see my friends falling away, look up again, see the plane flying away and my reserve fully inflated.... so really, it took about a second from the dam thing to open and me to see what had happened. What the video showedAs I exited the plane, the camera guy was filming the divers, and kept his focus on me (wonder why!!!). From the video, as I am passing the door you can see that instead of diving, my upper body is actually being made to straighten up (as the rig is caught on the bar). As soon as I finally break free (still my lower body in the plane) my reserve pilot chute come out and starts doing its job. It literally took about 1 to 2 second from that point until full deployment. Nothing hit the plane (canopy, me or free bag) and nobody hit me or the reserve. What happened: as I dove, I was not bent down enough (a Caravan is not a very tall plane, and tall fat bastards like me need to crouch pretty low to get through) the float handle either found a way to fit under the pop top, or at the very least, managed to push on the edge of the said pop top enough to rip it off. The closing loop was broken (300lb strength Cypress loop) and the reserve pin was bent in the process.The Pop top was tight. We (my rigger and I) had tightened it a couple of weeks before (they tend to loosen up after each repack of the reserve as the reserve settles in).The incident really was not nerve wracking at all... It happened so fast, and by the time I realized what was happening, I had seen the other jumpers fall past me without anybody hitting me, and I saw the plane fly away, so I knew no one and nothing was hurt by my premature. So the first thought that can to my mind was FUCK.. SHIT.... missing a jump... Things could have been A LOT worse, but they weren't....Lesson learnt: bend down !!!!! Each type of equipment has advantages and draw back: a pop top has very secure reserve pin(s), but an exposed pilot chute than can be caught up on something. RemiRemiMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viking 0 #2 August 28, 2001 that must have been one long canopy ride!!!! good chance to test how many spirals you can take I swear you must have footprints on the back of your helmet Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RemiAndKaren 0 #3 August 28, 2001 The real funny part was that we got to 14K and I though: Great! Extra altitude RemiMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RemiAndKaren 0 #4 August 28, 2001 PS: thanks to every one who let me used their rigs for the rest of the weekend.... yayaya, I know.. just had a mal, and jumping borrowed rigs, that's asking for it!! lol, but surely these FX 99 cant be that different from my Stileto 170.....RemiMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skreamer 1 #5 August 28, 2001 Dude, after how that guy got killed in Australia when a similar thing happened (it was a Caravan too), I would be constipated for a week with a clenched up sphincter!BTW I heard you laid down a monster swoop on the FX!!! What was the size of the reserve in that rig anyway? (or didn't you bother asking) Will Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #6 August 28, 2001 NIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCEEEEE! Glad it wasn't worse. Just another good jump story."The cab driver said... he recognized my girly by the back of her head" -Beasty BoysClay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rainman 0 #7 August 28, 2001 I'm 6'2" just like you, and my favorite (home) DZ also has a Cessna (Grand) Caravan. On one of my solo jumps a video-guy for a tandem happened to catch my exit, and somehow I made onto the tandem video. When the tandem video was being shown, one of the J/Ms pointed out to me that I hit the floating handle with the top of my rig as well! Fortunately nothing happened, but it made me very aware of the fact that I do need to bend down on a dive exit!I'm glad no-one got hurt on your incident!Ramon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites RemiAndKaren 0 #8 August 28, 2001 Quotebut it made me very aware of the fact that I do need to bend down on a dive exitits so easy to loose the importance of that... very often, pretty much on every load, there are people hitting the sides of the door, its top, whatever... just another thing to keep in mind! RemiMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites RemiAndKaren 0 #9 August 29, 2001 Correction on the What Happened part:The closing loop did not break, but the force on it pulled appart the finger trap... just talked with my rigger who confirmed.RemiMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Pammi 0 #10 August 29, 2001 Wow! Glad to hear you are okay!! That's kinda what happened when I tore my rig...got caught on something while diving the door and just felt a tug (no one believed that I really had when I told them later..thought I'd just screwed up our exit and was making excuses..lol) Careful guys!A new page! Bi-Plane pics! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Jessica 0 #11 August 29, 2001 Dude, so glad you're okay. Wow.QuoteThe Pop top was tight. We (my rigger and I) had tightened it a couple of weeks before (they tend to loosen up after each repack of the reserve as the reserve settles in).Now, what the hell is this all about? I have a Reflex, too, and I have to get that bad boy tightened ALL THE DAMN TIME. Sometimes, I'll be in the jump plane, and the looseness of it will freak the other jumpers out and I'll have 10 JMs inspecting me. Is there a trick to this I should be telling my riggers to do? Or am I doomed to frequently bugging my rigger for a pop-top tightening (that sounds kind of dirty, don't know why)? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites RemiAndKaren 0 #12 August 29, 2001 I'm no rigger, but after doing it with a rigger and by myself a couple of time, I'm pretty confident you can do it by yourself too.... (just in case ask your rigger to show you how so that you can do it yourself too.. and if your rigger doenst know how to do it properly, ask another...).You should be able to do it without even removing the cover of the pop top (the closing loop end should be coming though a hole on the side of the cover and then be tucked back under the pop top), then all you need to do is pull on that sucker..... It should tighen on itself (but wear some gloves as the line may dig in). One might consider checking the pin does not get bent and the that the pull force required to move the pin is OK just in case you get a fit of Hecules like strength...RemiMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites pyke 0 #13 August 29, 2001 Jess, hon...sounds to me like you should consider investing in a new container. This can't be a good thing...to have to tighten your pop top more frequently than its pack cycle.And....if you need your pop-top tightened....I'll volunteer to at least give it a whirlP.S. You gonna be at the Halloween boogie at SDD...am thinking of coming out for it. Will have to stick around and drink a little longer this time. won't be SO tired from a drive hopefully! would love to catch up "for real" this time!Kahurangi e Mahearangi,Pyke NZPF A - 2584USPA C- ????? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites RemiAndKaren 0 #14 August 29, 2001 Pyke: youre kinda right, Jess shouldnt have to have it re-tighened so often (he Reflex pop top that is ), but shelling our $1K for a ner conainer isnt the answer.... there might be something wrong in the way its packed/closed... Jess: Does you rigger have much experience with these rigs?RemiMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Jessica 0 #15 August 29, 2001 Well, I sure as hell shouldn't have to buy another container. My baby is newish (four years old, but fewer than 100 jumps on it), and tons of people have Reflexes.I think my rigger (who has been just as frustrated as me by this problem) may have finally figured out the way to do it -- I had my reserve repacked several weeks ago and the pop-top is STILL flush against the container. I hope it holds.I was hoping there was some magic trick that neither of us knew.Hey, all this dirtiness gives me an idea for a new thread.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. 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RemiAndKaren 0 #8 August 28, 2001 Quotebut it made me very aware of the fact that I do need to bend down on a dive exitits so easy to loose the importance of that... very often, pretty much on every load, there are people hitting the sides of the door, its top, whatever... just another thing to keep in mind! RemiMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RemiAndKaren 0 #9 August 29, 2001 Correction on the What Happened part:The closing loop did not break, but the force on it pulled appart the finger trap... just talked with my rigger who confirmed.RemiMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pammi 0 #10 August 29, 2001 Wow! Glad to hear you are okay!! That's kinda what happened when I tore my rig...got caught on something while diving the door and just felt a tug (no one believed that I really had when I told them later..thought I'd just screwed up our exit and was making excuses..lol) Careful guys!A new page! Bi-Plane pics! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jessica 0 #11 August 29, 2001 Dude, so glad you're okay. Wow.QuoteThe Pop top was tight. We (my rigger and I) had tightened it a couple of weeks before (they tend to loosen up after each repack of the reserve as the reserve settles in).Now, what the hell is this all about? I have a Reflex, too, and I have to get that bad boy tightened ALL THE DAMN TIME. Sometimes, I'll be in the jump plane, and the looseness of it will freak the other jumpers out and I'll have 10 JMs inspecting me. Is there a trick to this I should be telling my riggers to do? Or am I doomed to frequently bugging my rigger for a pop-top tightening (that sounds kind of dirty, don't know why)? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites RemiAndKaren 0 #12 August 29, 2001 I'm no rigger, but after doing it with a rigger and by myself a couple of time, I'm pretty confident you can do it by yourself too.... (just in case ask your rigger to show you how so that you can do it yourself too.. and if your rigger doenst know how to do it properly, ask another...).You should be able to do it without even removing the cover of the pop top (the closing loop end should be coming though a hole on the side of the cover and then be tucked back under the pop top), then all you need to do is pull on that sucker..... It should tighen on itself (but wear some gloves as the line may dig in). One might consider checking the pin does not get bent and the that the pull force required to move the pin is OK just in case you get a fit of Hecules like strength...RemiMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites pyke 0 #13 August 29, 2001 Jess, hon...sounds to me like you should consider investing in a new container. This can't be a good thing...to have to tighten your pop top more frequently than its pack cycle.And....if you need your pop-top tightened....I'll volunteer to at least give it a whirlP.S. You gonna be at the Halloween boogie at SDD...am thinking of coming out for it. Will have to stick around and drink a little longer this time. won't be SO tired from a drive hopefully! would love to catch up "for real" this time!Kahurangi e Mahearangi,Pyke NZPF A - 2584USPA C- ????? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites RemiAndKaren 0 #14 August 29, 2001 Pyke: youre kinda right, Jess shouldnt have to have it re-tighened so often (he Reflex pop top that is ), but shelling our $1K for a ner conainer isnt the answer.... there might be something wrong in the way its packed/closed... Jess: Does you rigger have much experience with these rigs?RemiMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Jessica 0 #15 August 29, 2001 Well, I sure as hell shouldn't have to buy another container. My baby is newish (four years old, but fewer than 100 jumps on it), and tons of people have Reflexes.I think my rigger (who has been just as frustrated as me by this problem) may have finally figured out the way to do it -- I had my reserve repacked several weeks ago and the pop-top is STILL flush against the container. I hope it holds.I was hoping there was some magic trick that neither of us knew.Hey, all this dirtiness gives me an idea for a new thread.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
RemiAndKaren 0 #12 August 29, 2001 I'm no rigger, but after doing it with a rigger and by myself a couple of time, I'm pretty confident you can do it by yourself too.... (just in case ask your rigger to show you how so that you can do it yourself too.. and if your rigger doenst know how to do it properly, ask another...).You should be able to do it without even removing the cover of the pop top (the closing loop end should be coming though a hole on the side of the cover and then be tucked back under the pop top), then all you need to do is pull on that sucker..... It should tighen on itself (but wear some gloves as the line may dig in). One might consider checking the pin does not get bent and the that the pull force required to move the pin is OK just in case you get a fit of Hecules like strength...RemiMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pyke 0 #13 August 29, 2001 Jess, hon...sounds to me like you should consider investing in a new container. This can't be a good thing...to have to tighten your pop top more frequently than its pack cycle.And....if you need your pop-top tightened....I'll volunteer to at least give it a whirlP.S. You gonna be at the Halloween boogie at SDD...am thinking of coming out for it. Will have to stick around and drink a little longer this time. won't be SO tired from a drive hopefully! would love to catch up "for real" this time!Kahurangi e Mahearangi,Pyke NZPF A - 2584USPA C- ????? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RemiAndKaren 0 #14 August 29, 2001 Pyke: youre kinda right, Jess shouldnt have to have it re-tighened so often (he Reflex pop top that is ), but shelling our $1K for a ner conainer isnt the answer.... there might be something wrong in the way its packed/closed... Jess: Does you rigger have much experience with these rigs?RemiMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jessica 0 #15 August 29, 2001 Well, I sure as hell shouldn't have to buy another container. My baby is newish (four years old, but fewer than 100 jumps on it), and tons of people have Reflexes.I think my rigger (who has been just as frustrated as me by this problem) may have finally figured out the way to do it -- I had my reserve repacked several weeks ago and the pop-top is STILL flush against the container. I hope it holds.I was hoping there was some magic trick that neither of us knew.Hey, all this dirtiness gives me an idea for a new thread.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
