mikeat10500 12 #1 September 15, 2003 So Trevor and I were practicing our hap-hazard 9-cell docking techniques(lots of sidesways action)...and YEeee-HA..it's a wrap...and a good one at that. We are at 7 grand with my canopy(totally trashed)worked down to his left leg. We yelled back and forth for the next 1000' of decent...while trying to work off the tightly wrapped nylon. I thought it looked a little strange seeing my canopy trailing up at a 45 deg angle instead of directly behind his leg. Wow...we must have a pretty healthy rate of decent. At around 6000' we agreed I would cutaway. I pull the red handle all the way down to my lucky charms....nothing....no freefall. So I take my right hand to clear the cables. Now with the pillow in my right hand and longest cable stretched out in my left...I was left feeling...well disappointed as I was still not in freefall. I look up at Trevor who is not screaming in pain yet and through away the cutaway handle. I made a fist and beat the right hand 3 ring...good idea...just didn't work. Now I have to cutaway...I just have to. So I reach up the outside of the right riser and touch the 3 ring...small ring...flick...cha-ching. Now I'm hanging by my left riser...same drill, punching did not work but a manual release was possible without catching my fingers in the 3 rings(I was careful). Freefall..so sweet..ripcord...lopo. I love that big jelly fish. Ok...check list...sunglasses...check...ripcord...check. spot...oh boy. Speaking of fish...winds were less than five knots all the way up and the wrap took us a little off course. I crashed down through some small trees(just shrubs really)into a nice swamp. Thanks to all that came out to the swamp yesterday ...my gear is ok but I think we destroyed ten pair of running shoes.----------------------------------- Mike Wheadon B-3715,HEMP#1 Higher Expectations for Modern Parachutists. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #2 September 15, 2003 How often before this did you massage the three rings to prevent them from setting up and locking like this?Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #3 September 15, 2003 QuoteHow often before this did you massage the three rings to prevent them from setting up and locking like this? I was about to ask the same question. Followed by: Mini-rings or standard ring? Are you sure that they were manufactured correctly (RWS has a diagram up on their site to check it with)?--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikeat10500 12 #4 September 15, 2003 QuoteQuoteHow often before this did you massage the three rings to prevent them from setting up and locking like this? I was about to ask the same question. Followed by: Mini-rings or standard ring? Are you sure that they were manufactured correctly (RWS has a diagram up on their site to check it with)? Standard rings....not massaged sense the last cutaway(my bad)...witch worked great at that time and I have cutaway after landing to test them...but not for a long time. There was not a lot of tension on the left riser (during the wrap)and none on the right. I was supported by Trevors left foot for about 1500' and he complained of no discomfort afterward. There was enough wind noise to make communication difficult. I believe it was the loops that were stiff from getting wet, when packing on wet mornings witout packing matt. They dried and set up. Just a guess thought.----------------------------------- Mike Wheadon B-3715,HEMP#1 Higher Expectations for Modern Parachutists. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #5 September 15, 2003 Well, I'm really glad that you found they had trouble releasing up high, then at 1500ft! The only wrap I've been in wasn't nearly as exciting as that, we didn't even have to have a cutaway...--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikeat10500 12 #6 September 15, 2003 QuoteWell, I'm really glad that you found they had trouble releasing up high, then at 1500ft! The only wrap I've been in wasn't nearly as exciting as that, we didn't even have to have a cutaway... The last cutaway was at 1650'...pilot chute entanglement. It's a lot easier to think at 6000'.----------------------------------- Mike Wheadon B-3715,HEMP#1 Higher Expectations for Modern Parachutists. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot90 0 #7 September 16, 2003 QuoteThe last cutaway was at 1650'...pilot chute entanglement. It's a lot easier to think at 6000'. isn't that the truth Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D22369 0 #8 September 17, 2003 WHOOYAAAAA.........scary man......very scary!!!! glad everything worked out..... was your partner cut/abraded? I havent ever worried about the 3rings not releasing, I think I will pay a bit more attention to them from now on.............thanks for posting. RoyThey say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikeat10500 12 #9 September 19, 2003 QuoteWHOOYAAAAA.........scary man......very scary!!!! glad everything worked out..... was your partner cut/abraded? Actually due to the altitude it was not that scary. But I think Trevor was starting to get excited at one point" he was watching me attempt to cutaway from above". He was in no way injured but his chest mount alti was later found "CUT IN TWO". MICRO-LINE....good thing we were not naked this time! Quote I havent ever worried about the 3rings not releasing, I think I will pay a bit more attention to them from now on.............thanks for posting. Roy It was a first for me and I never thought it would happen...nice to have altitude when shit gets weird. P.S. I'm going to keep a better eye on stuff too!----------------------------------- Mike Wheadon B-3715,HEMP#1 Higher Expectations for Modern Parachutists. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
