Inspect your cables people!

[riggerrob 643]

A recent tandem fatality - in Poland - reminds us of an old problem: cracked plastic coatings on flex cables.
Flex cables are often installed on tandems or student gear to reduce the risk of main pins releasing prematurely. Flex pins are made of stout steel cables coated with low friction plastic: nylon, Teflon, etc.
Preliminary reports say that the plastic coating stripped off the flex pin that holds the main container closed. That small scrap of plastic jammed the main container closed. The TI tried unsuccessfully to release the drogue, then pulled his reserve ripcord. Sadly, his reserve entangled with his drogue.

Cracked flex pins are not a new problem. After problems a decade ago, all three big American tandem manufacturers (Racer, Strong and Vector) reminded users to inspect flex pins every 25 jumps and replace them before 1,000 jumps.
Something as important as main closing pins reserves multiple inspections.
Professional DZOs always keep a few spare flex pins near the packing area. Rigger's inspect flex pins during every 25-jump inspection. Professional packers replace flex pins at the first sign of cracking. Professional TIs inspect flex pins before every jump.

Before solo jumpers get complacent, remember the solo jumper who thundered in last year after he stripped the red Teflon costing from a Racer cutaway cable. That scrap of Teflon jammed a main riser, preventing him from releasing a malfunctioned main. He died.
The Racer factory responded by introducing cutaway cables coated with more durable ORANGE Teflon.