Floating reserve Ripcord

[Squeak 17]

OK I was one a 2 way coach type jump, and due to my inexperience I allowed my reserve ripcord to be dislodged. I did not notice this until i was under Canopy, the cord looked to be longer than I would have liked so I elected to chop my good working main and go to my reserve.
It was a hard decision for me to make, but my thought process had me concerned about a two out on finals.
Now on speaking with the CI he explained that he would have probably chosen to stay with the main canopy.

So my question is what do you teach (or have you been taught) to deal with this situation.

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[mjosparky 4]

Since you were the only one there at the time, and you walked away from it, it seems like you did the right thing for you.

It easy to second guess someone who is dealing with an emergency, real or perceived. But the bottom line is you and you alone have to make the decision with the experience and knowledge you left the plane with. Some guy on the ground with loads of knowledge and experience can’t help a bit.

To add to you “experience and knowledge” from this incident, as soon as your reserve is repacked, get in the hanging harness and attempt to set up the same situation. With the pin in its proper place pull the handle out and let it swing loose. How close is it to what you saw?

But always remember that decisions you make up high are usually one you will have to live ,or die, with down low

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[Squeak 17]

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But always remember that decisions you make up high are usually one you will have to live ,or die, with down low

That's exactly my way of thinking Sparky, that's why I was interested in seeing what people are taught (if they are) about how to deal with this. I was taught on an SOS system which is obviously different, with the potiential for a premature cutaway. But I dont recall being taught about dealing with a floating handle on a TAS.

Good Idea about the hanging harness, I was going to do similar but hanging would be a better way to replicate it. thanks

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[bob.dino 1]

I've had a similar situation during a 4-way jump. A botched attempt at Stardians (block 6) left me with a floating reserve ripcord. It was pointed out to me during freefall. I elected to hold the ripcord to the MLW and deploy my main. Opened alright and I tucked the ripcord in behind the MLW and landed.

I was aware of the possibility of a two-out but thought that the odds of that were less serious than using my reserve directly - I wanted to keep my two chances as long as possible.

[billvon 3,120]

> I elected to hold the ripcord to the MLW and deploy my main.

I recommend you do NOT do this! Your arm weighs about 10 pounds; your ripcord handle weighs well under a pound. During a hard opening (which is more likely if you deploy with one arm on your reserve handle) your arm will become part of the weight that's pulling on the ripcord, and you will not be strong enough/fast enough to let go or fight the pull. I've seen at least one dual deployment because of this.

If your ripcord is floating, and the wind hasn't deployed it, chances are that the opening won't either.

[councilman24 37]

You made the decision but.....

You used your last chance to live. Reserves do malfunction. You got rid of a good canopy on the chance that your reserve pin might pull.

But what would have happened? The PC MIGHT have extracted the bag or might not, the bag might have fallen out of the container or might not. The PC might extract the lines and canopy or might not. And the reserve might have inflated or not. And the two canopies open might have caused a problem or might not.

The reserve container opening when under a canopy doesn't necessarily mean an inflated reserve canopy.

I'm not hesitant to get rid of something I can't land. But to take the chance on my last parachute opening correctly because of something that MIGHT happen and MIGHT cause a problem is not a risk I'm willing to take.

Floating ripcords, both main and reserve, used to be fairly common when simple elastic pockets were used with clover leaf or martin baker type ripcords. I hadn't thought about it in a long while but I probably had a few back in those days. We were trained to look at the end of the housing to find the cable in order to pull. Never was a big deal and cutting away never entered my mind.

If I thought the reserve might deploy I would probably fly conservatively, but I do anyway. If the container opened I would fly in brakes for the rest of the decent and landing to provide less wind to the reserve PC.

But hind sight is 20/20. You did what you thought right and it worked out. That the best any of us can hope for on any given jump.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[JohnMitchell 16]

If it hadn't pulled open during deployment of your main, I would have figured it would stay put. I would have put it back in the pocket and flown the main down. But . . . . it's always your ass in the harness. I think you made an okay choice.

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[Squeak 17]

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If it hadn't pulled open during deployment of your main, I would have figured it would stay put. I would have put it back in the pocket and flown the main down. But . . . . it's always your ass in the harness. I think you made an okay choice.

That's the take that my CI has on it. Live and learn

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[sundevil777 102]

My thought is that if worried about the consequence of the reserve firing later during your canopy ride, then fly it around at slow speed (deep brakes), letting it fly at 100 feet before landing normally. If the reserve fires while flying slowly, whatever falls out (probably dangling below, not behind) will not matter, or you have a chance to contain. If it does fire at 100 feet, it won't deploy enough to matter.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[thelem 0]

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Now on speaking with the CI he explained that he would have probably chosen to stay with the main canopy.

Remember that in addition to all the reasons you have not to pull your reserve (it might not work, money etc), your CI also wants to minimise the number of reserve rides on his dropzone. Obiously he'll prefer a reserve ride to an injury, but its another factor he will be subconciously considering, especially after a safe landing (which can falsely make it feel like you would have been safe either way).

[koppel 5]

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If your ripcord is floating, and the wind hasn't deployed it, chances are that the opening won't either

the chances of this happening are equal to the force the handle creates as it trancends the arc from the attachment point. If there is a small amount of excess cable the force created will be smaller than if there is a large amount of excess cable, where the force will be great.
Also the weight of the handle needs to be considered. The lighter the handle the lower the chance of it deploying the pin and finally the closing force of the loop on the reserve pin.
In Australia we have a maximum pull force allowed of 22lbs on the reserve pin. I know of a rigger who doesnt like to put more than 14 lbs on the loop. His would therefore be more likely to fire in that situation than someone who packs with 22lbs.

Know your own gear and make your choices based on knowledge and not just on what people (including me).

Glad to see your still Squeaking

edited to add: Yes I agree with you as well billvon that it would be considered a bad idea to hold the handle through deployment.

I like my canopy...


...it lets me down.