councilman24 37 #1 July 8, 2003 Just got my issue of Skydiving. Hadn't realized that the second broken pin was on a Softie. If there is a rig that doesn't put stress on a pin its a Softie. Hadn't paid a lot of attention since I service only one Mirage occasionally. Anybody think of any reason NOT to test ripcord pins per Poynter's Manual during inspection and repack? From the information in the Skydiving article (not clear) this may not be able to be isolated to less than 60,000 plus pins from capewell. All of which should have been inspected at least once, probably twice, maybe three times. This could mean pretty much any ripcord in the last, ummm what, 2 or 3 years or more? Unless it's the swaging (ripcord manufacturing) process stressing the swage end of the pin is the problem. This is not something I've thought about doing lately. At one point I was considering testing routinely but that seemed overkill. TerryI'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darkwing 5 #2 July 8, 2003 My recollection from the photo is that the break was not close to the swage, but was on the shaft. I plan on at least hand testing, as these were reported to break easily. It would also be easy to test formally. Didn't Capewell say that they use 12 pounds? I'm happier every day that I have a Cypres. -- Jeff My Skydiving History Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
councilman24 37 #3 July 8, 2003 The break in the photo was on the shaft but at the swage end, not far from the taper. You might invision a swage putting stress into that portion of the metal, or not. This is one I haven't heard before in 25 years of jumping. I'm disappointed that more information hasn't been available sooner. Expecially other than here and in Skydiving. TerryI'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darkwing 5 #4 July 9, 2003 I think there is no more information, because they don't know what to say. I have no reason to doubt Capewell's story that every pin is tested to twelve pounds, and that these apparently broke much easier. This is a job for some serious metallurgy. A couple of cases out of about a bazillion pins is tough to remediate. -- Jeff My Skydiving History Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
councilman24 37 #5 July 9, 2003 I'm not concerned about Capewell or others withholding information, but rather the lack of a viable communication system to riggers. What I was lamenting was that I had to find out these details in Skydiving, and I consider myself fairly well in touch between these forums and my membership in PIA. The riggers forum on the PIA website is still combursome and little used. I'm going to discuss this at the next PIA meeting. What doesn't help is the FAA's reluctance to issue AD's these days. BTW, anybody know if both pins were either terminal or through cable pins, or were they one of each?I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
