Teardrop Container - non fatal incident

[Tonto 1]

A jumper had a malfunction when the plastic handle used to deploy the main pilot chute came off when she attempted to deploy.

The below response is from an employee of Aerodyne - formerly PISA.

"Hi Skydivers

As many of you have heard, there was an incident involving a PISA manufactured Teardrop, whereby the
main pilot chute handle was pulled off the pilot chute during deployment sequence.
We are currently drawing up a Safety Bulletin regarding this, and will publish it ASAP.

If you own a PISA manufactured Teardrop, please check your main pilot chute where the plastic tube
handle is sewn onto the pilot chute fabric. If you find that there is any wear at all, or it looks
like it is coming loose, please do not jump it until it has been modified in one of the following
ways:

1) The zig-zag stitching has been re-enforced with bartacks (A Qualified Rigger must do this)
2) It has been sent to the PISA factory, now called Aerodyne Systems, for a factory upgrade /
modification.

If there is no wear, please still get your nearest rigger to do this mod, or send it back to us.

If you have any queries regarding this, please contact me on the below numbers.

NB: If you have already replaced the plastic tube handle with a Hackey Sack or Monkey Claw, this
should not apply to your pilot chute, but check it anyway to be on the safe side...

Blue skies and safe dives!
Dave

****************************************************************************************************
*
AERODYNE SYSTEMS
Dave Macrae - Sports Marketing: Africa, Australia & New Zealand Regions
PO Box 1616, Verulam, 4340, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0)32 5330333
Fax: +27 (0)32 5330262
Cell: +27 (0)82 3399964
Email: d.macrae@aerodyne-int.com
Web: www.aerodyne-int.com "

It's the year of the Pig.

[Scrumpot 1]

You should always check the condition of your hackey attachment or plastic tube attachment as a part of your main packing sequence. This "part" like any other certainly can & does (as indicated by this incident) wear. Very responsible report/response from PISA/Aerodyne Systems in their handling of this, my hat's off to them.

coitus non circum - Moab Stone