Some thoughts

[billdo 0]

I'd like to point out an interesting malfunction I saw a jumper have in the past year. Upon normal throwout deployment at around 2500, this jumper had two canopys come out simultaneously. The jumper was using a Racer, and immediately cut away as the main appeared to be still in the process of inflation. The rig had no cypress, but did have an RSL. Any thoughts?

Turns out, the cutaway handle had become dislodged in the plane and was re-stowed in the velcro on the ride to altitude. Unknown to the jumper, that little mishap had released the cable on the left riser loop, thus, when he deployed the left riser immediately left the 3-rings and pulled the RSL.

Another experience I have to share. While jumping a friend's rig an old Vector 2 with worn velcro on the riser covers and missing toggle keeper loops, so the best could be done was set the brake and give it a good hard tug from above to "set" it.
I was observing a coach jump from about 10 feet away, just sitting there in a stable box position when the coach, who was wearing video turns to me and flies over with a VERY concerned look on his face and begins reaching behind me. I trust this jumpmaster so I just sat there and waited while he messed with my gear. I was half-expecting him to deploy me for whatever reason. Then, and you should see the look on my face in the video, HE HANDS ME MY TOGGLE IN FREEFALL! I didn't know what to do, but we were at around 7000 so I turned and tracked away holding the toggle and wandering what to do. I decided to pull high and held the toggle at approximately half-brake position in my left hand during deployment and had an on-heading deployment with a stilleto 120 loaded at 1.9

After that, still wanting to jump the canopy, but fuck the rig, I switched the canopy to my container but left the crappy risers with missing toggle keeper loops on it CAUSE I WAS TOO LAZY to put my brand new VooDoo risers on it.

A few jumps later, a brake released on opening and the canopy spun up to the risers and started spiraling like a Mofo, so I chopped it.

The bottom line is, used and borrowed gear kills.

Hope someone takes something away from these stories.

Later

[markbaur 0]

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Any thoughts?

Turns out, the cutaway handle had become dislodged in the plane and was re-stowed in the velcro on the ride to altitude. Unknown to the jumper...

Um, check of threes? That is: three-rings assembled correctly, three straps threaded correctly, three handles in place. Every jumper is responsible for at least that much self-check on jump run. You've described a jumper malfunction, not an equipment malfunction.

Mark

[skybytch 273]

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The bottom line is, used and borrowed gear kills.

Whoa, good stories. But don't blame the gear in either case - blame the person who a) jumped without a complete gear check after something had changed since the last one or b) jumped gear that they knew was worn.

There's nothing wrong with used gear or borrowed gear as long as it's been well maintained and the user takes some time to at least touch all the handles before jumping it the first time.

[markbaur 0]

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Used gear kills.

After the first jump, all gear is used. Most well-maintained used gear is safe to jump. What you've described is poorly maintained or poorly assembled gear -- and the toggle was not the problem the second time.

Mark

[Kris 0]

Lisa and Mark make good points.

One of the more important rules in this sport is to Maintain Thy Gear!

We've all seen it or have tried to justify it ourselves..."Ahhh...c'mon. It'll last for another jump or two."

I know someone like that and watched his PC wrap around his arm during a sit-fly at 9K because he kept putting off getting a new BOC pouch put on his rig. Well, it caught up to him on that jump.

Then two jumps becomes four becomes eight becomes 100. If you've been putting off some needed maintenance or rigging, this winter season is the perfect time to play catch up.

Then again, I am the one accused of being too picky about my gear before the first jump of the weekend because I'll spend a few minutes checking all the visible harness & container stitching before my usual weekend pre-flight. This sport is only as safe as we make it.

Kris

Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and
Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

[billdo 0]

Yea, you guys make the finer point that these are more "jumper malfunctions" than gear malfunctions. I agree. And of course used/borrowed gear can be totally safe. I guess I meant that poorly maintained gear, especially when it's stuff you're new to or unfamilliar with is bad. Whatever the cause, isn't it very true "statistically" that a lot of people are hurt on "used or borrowed" gear as opposed to their own?

I once ran out of gas on the freeway late at night in a rental car, and when the roadside assist guy got there, he told me dispatch told him it was a rental, even though I hadn't told them that. He said they assumed it because "everyone" who runs out of gas on the freeway is driving a rental.

Whether it's appropriate or not, my pre-gear inspection is a LOT more thorough when it's rental/borrowed/used/or packed by someone I don't know. If it's combinations of those I get plain scared.

[JYorkster 0]

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I'll spend a few minutes checking all the visible harness & container stitching before my usual weekend pre-flight.

'Pre-flight"? Is that what you are doing? I thought it was called 'packing', since you were too lazy to pack it after the last load the weekend before.

"Preflight"...that's a good one....

Rock

[Kris 0]

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"Preflight"...that's a good one....

Heh. Packing is completely separate. If I were to show up packed it would cause a collapse in the universe as we know it. You can't mess with tradition.

Actually, by pre-flight, I mean checking the reserve loop / pin / seal, 3-rings, turning on my Cypres, and making sure all 3 friction adapters are threaded properly.

Kris

Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and
Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™