riggerrob 643
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I haven't found myself in this situation yet -- if this is deemed to be a "bad habit" I'd rather avoid developing it to begin with ... hence why I brought it up for discussion.
However, I don't want to use my reserve unless I absolutely have to and no, having to deal with a repack is NOT the reason.
O
However, I don't want to use my reserve unless I absolutely have to and no, having to deal with a repack is NOT the reason.
O
riggerrob 643
"I’ve read the statistics, but how common double malfunctions really are?"
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Double malfunctions are really rare.
For example, I already have four "saves" this year, but can only remember two reserve failures.
The first failure started with a "non-standard" flag configuration entangling with a main so badly that he could not clear it. His reserve half inflated, he bounced off a steeply sloped roof and impacted soft, wet grass.
The second reserve failure involved a guy who was over-weight, over-speed, unstable, when he dislocated a shoulder and a Cypres saved him. the reserve canopy got torn, but he was lucky enough to land in a muddy field and survived.
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Double malfunctions are really rare.
For example, I already have four "saves" this year, but can only remember two reserve failures.
The first failure started with a "non-standard" flag configuration entangling with a main so badly that he could not clear it. His reserve half inflated, he bounced off a steeply sloped roof and impacted soft, wet grass.
The second reserve failure involved a guy who was over-weight, over-speed, unstable, when he dislocated a shoulder and a Cypres saved him. the reserve canopy got torn, but he was lucky enough to land in a muddy field and survived.
dragon2 2
Not sure if this counts as a double mal, but after chopping a spinning Safire 135 I got a Transfair (128 sqft) with one endcell not inflated (at all). O-kay, had plenty of altitude, so tried to clear it several times and several ways. Couldn't. Landed it like that, had to counter steer with right toggle almost all the way down, landed behind the trees so coming in pretty fast, flared out of instinct or something even though I had decided I would not, did a left hook into the frozen ground, failed to roll so hit feet first face second. Ouch. Broke my nose. Learned how to inflate a reserve with no interconnection holes real quick after that 
ciel bleu,
Saskia
JohnMitchell 16
Line twists are not malfunctions on regular performance canopies. There used to be no reason to cutaway from line twists, because the big 7 cell canopies of the day would fly nice and straight while you kicked out. I have chopped my Stiletto due to line twists, and I can't tell you how aggravating that was to me.QuoteWhat are the type of malfunctions that can be cleared, other than the obvious brake fire and line twists?
Other things that can be cleared? Tension knots in the suspension lines sometimes respond to pumping the brakes. I've had that work. Sometimes a lineover near the end of the canopy will slip off with a couple of pumps. I haven't had that. I've had sniveling canopies that have finally opened with a few pumps of the toggles. (be careful, you're losing altitude fast.)
A classic streamer twisting up tighter and tighter? Don't screw with that. Cutaway and pull your reserve. Don't forget to put your feet on your butt and arch.
Always know how high you are. Some days you break off high, pull high, lots of time to work. Some days you pull lower, not as much time. I maintain it's not being low that's dangerous, it's not knowing you're deep in the beeps.
QuoteLearned how to inflate a reserve with no interconnection holes real quick after that
How? (Share what you learned.)
O
dragon2 2
JohnMitchell 16
Ouch! Another reason why I like bigger reserves. Light wing loading is your friend.
dragon2 2
QuoteOuch! Another reason why I like bigger reserves. Light wing loading is your friend.
Eh yeah, last weekend's Techno 115 ride @ 1.6/1.7 didn't end with a very graceful landing
ciel bleu,
Saskia
kkeenan 14
QuoteWhat are the type of malfunctions that can be cleared, other than the obvious brake fire and line twists?
It's sort of a case of; "If you have to ask, you don't have the experience." Newer folks don't like to hear this, but it is impossible to simply list a bunch of problems and identify those that can be worked out and those that can't. Experience will teach you what you yourself are capable of. One person may be able to resolve a problem in the air, while another, with the same problem, may not have the time.
At your experience level, I would say that line twists or a brake fire can probably be fixed at altitude - they're not big problems and are easily fixed. Anything else - If you can't land it, chop it.
Kevin K.
_____________________________________
Dude, you are so awesome...
Can I be on your ash jump ?
Dude, you are so awesome...
Can I be on your ash jump ?
wolfriverjoe 1,523
QuoteOne person may be able to resolve a problem in the air, while another, with the same problem, may not have the time.
Bingo.
I had my first brake fire a while back. Big canopy, lightly loaded, pulled at 3k.
I dealt with it ok.
1 week later, another jumper had a brake fire. Smaller canopy, much higer loading, lower altitude.
She chopped it. Nice safe reserve ride, found everything.
The 2 incidents were discussed.
The conclusion was that we both did the right thing.
"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy
"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo
"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo
humbled1 0
on my 48th jump I opened with a stuck brakeline. As I was spining around and around I kept thinking, I can get this, it will come out, I even had both hands on it yanking but it would not come. I realized I can not land this thing and cutaway and used my reserve. But I was under my reserve around 1100 feet. Way to low without a doubt. My next cutway was around jump 180 (to lazy to look it up) I opened with a step-thru (my pack job) I did a control check and had no control over the main. I looked at my alti, 2k, instantly cutaway. In both cases I feel like I did the correct thing, but the first time I waited WAY TO LONG. I could have stopped the parachute from spinning by using the other toggle but I was so focused on releasing the other brake I did not think about that, but it still would have left me with a difficult canopy to land.
I am ashamed to say that was not my only step thru I have packed for myself. On my first night jump, jump 201 I think, I opened with another step thru (yeah I know) regardless I was able to control the canopy based on my control check so I choose to land it, and had a very nice stand up landing in the main. (needless to say I have become a much more careful packer since then)
I am not suggesting ANYONE chop cuz they have line twists or a stuck slider (unless the feel they need to) and as I stated in my original reply (obviously the specifics of the mal would matter)
Also I believe the OP would fit into the category of a rookie jumper like myself so it appears my response was quite appropriate. thanks for your input
EDIT: also I forgot to mention that I believe not cutting away or even waiting to cutaway because you are afraid your reserve will not work, is not a good attitude to approach a jump with. If you believe its fixable, by all means fix it, but once you realizxe or believe it is not fixable, dont wait to chop because you reserve might not work properly, thats all I was getting at.
"Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."
humbled1 0
QuoteI fully agree with JohnRich on this one. I've fixed more than a couple of problems on mains. Just keep track of your altitude. If you can keep the canopy flying straight while you work on it, you usually have more time. More than once, I've held one toggle in my teeth while I used both hands to free the other one.
Watch your Altitude!
OK lets talk about altitude!!
Can you be more specific? was 1100 feet to high for a rookie? to high for an experienced jumper? How do you decide you need to chop?
I am amazed at the way John distorted my post and then you jump on the bandwagon.
Please show me in my orginal reply I said you can't fix a problem on your main. Have you ever done a somersault in your harness to correct a step thru? at night? then decided to land a double-step thru cuz u can't do a forward somersault in your harness?
u guys amaze me sometimes
rob seems to be the only experienced jumper posting that understands when things get TOO HAIRY ITS TIME TO CHOP!!
the scary thing is for a while I second guessed my choice to even cutaway on jump 48 thanks to monday morning quarterbacks like you and johnrich giving me all kind of tips after the cutaway on how I could have "fixed" the problem.
I know I did the right thing even if you dont!
"Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation."
QuoteI am amazed at the way John distorted my post and then you jump on the bandwagon.
I have not read in their post that they question your decision. They only say that with another level of experience (or in other situations) some decisions can be different.
Jurgen
format 1
QuoteThey only say that with another level of experience....
You should work as their post editor, really.
On the other hand, humbled1 said nothing wrong or unclear - worth correcting, imao.
What goes around, comes later.
Quotethe scary thing is for a while I second guessed my choice to even cutaway ... I know I did the right thing even if you dont!
That is scary ... if this means that the next time you'll find yourself between a rock and a hard place you waste precious time second guessing yourself, it's really scary.
You did the right thing cutting away a canopy you didn't feel OK flying.
I had my first and only cutaway as a student - jump #12 - to this day I'm not clear what it was (tension knots ?) ... the canopy was relatively square above my head, but I could only turn it in one direction and I couldn't keep it flying straight. I had a 1000 feet to work with it, I didn't know how to fix it, at got to 2,500 feet and I got rid of it. One of my former AFF instructors who was on the same load got to the ground and told everyone that I've cutaway a "perfectly good canopy" ... BEFORE I landed and I got a chance to say anything.
THAT WAS NOT COOL either ...
O
skybill 22
QuoteQuotethe scary thing is for a while I second guessed my choice to even cutaway ... I know I did the right thing even if you dont!
That is scary ... if this means that the next time you'll find yourself between a rock and a hard place you waste precious time second guessing yourself, it's really scary.
You did the right thing cutting away a canopy you didn't feel OK flying.
I had my first and only cutaway as a student - jump #12 - to this day I'm not clear what it was (tension knots ?) ... the canopy was relatively square above my head, but I could only turn it in one direction and I couldn't keep it flying straight. I had a 1000 feet to work with it, I didn't know how to fix it, at got to 2,500 feet and I got rid of it. One of my former AFF instructors who was on the same load got to the ground and told everyone that I've cutaway a "perfectly good canopy" ... BEFORE I landed and I got a chance to say anything.
THAT WAS NOT COOL either ...
O
Hi Oly,
"Funny you should mention that!!" What looks like a "perfectly good canopy" to someone else sure can be somethin' else to our eyeballs up close and personal!!!!! If the canopy would only turn in one direction and you couldn't keep it flying straight, the canopy was not "perfectly good!!" You did good by your actions. Never mind the coulda', woulda' shoulda', you made a good decision at the time and executed it resulting in your "walking away" on the ground under your own power. The tast of "Cold Beer" at Green Light is a lot better than "hospital food"...that is if you could still be able to eat!!!
Over the years I've seen lots of reserve deployments from what "Looked like perfectly good canopies!!" only to find out afterward there really was something wrong!! 'Had an old Django Dragonfly with about 1500 jumps on it rip a centercell lower seam from the A to the D line. It flew fine and wasn't sinking out too fast compared to the other canopies on the load so I figgured I'd land it. At the time Scare-us-valley had a nice big pea pit so I went for it "just in case!!" Well I landed OK but I sure sent the peas flying!!!!
SCR-2034, SCS-680
III%,
Deli-out
III%,
Deli-out
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Just another word for "sloppy packing."
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