Unstable

Today, we had a Student making their Secod "First Freefall" jump who experienced a Nasty Horseshoe-type malfunction. I've seen my share of Student Malfunctions, but this is the first time I've had a student cutaway while under my supervision. It's a long story, but any sort of advice feedback would be GREATLY appreciated - Hopefully some newer IAD/SL instructors can learn from what happened today at the Kansas State University Parachute Club. The Student involved is a very enthusiastic and involved jumper working on his Static Line Progression. After completing three spotless PRCP's (Practice RipCord Pulls) last week, he made his first freefall last Sunday. On His first Freefall, he had to much of a turn on exit, and he was asked to Redo. (His Last Instructor Posts here on these boards, I hope He will come and share his insights as well). The Question for me was, Do I have him redo a Hop & Pop, or do I ask him to perform one more PRCP on the Static Line before trying the freefall again?? We (the instructors) took this issue straight to our friendly neighborhood S&TA, who recommended that the student just do his hop & pop. Concuring, I proceded to ready my student for a Hop & Pop. As the Title of this thread indicates, his jump was rather eventful. After gently pushing off the step into a backflip, the student tumbled unstable for about 500 feet, and then pulled on his side. As the Canopy deployed, the right riser became hung underneath the reserve container, and a quasi-horseshoe resulted. The canopy (A Manta 288) opened in a violent spin. My Student Executed rock-solid emergency procedures, and landed the Reserve right in the pea pit; Beautiful controlled landing as I hear (I was still in the aircraft working with another student). I saw his malfunction from the aircraft, I can still remember the every detail. As you can imagine with a riser caught unde the reserve container, the reserve pilotchute deployed through a line group from the main, and the main was found entangled with the reserve freebag. This has been truly bothering me. I had a Question, and I followed the advice of my S&TA, and I feel that I did the right thing here. What is bothering me is the unpredictability of this student's (OR ANY STUDENTS) actions. I saw his performance on his PRCP's, and I would never have imagined this happening to him. The more I work as an Instructor, the more I realize I really don't know jack... As a result, we are going to have a meeting (I will organize it here shortly) and discuss standardizing our procedures and policies for students repeating this particular skydive. Or maybe is this just part of being an Instructor?? Anybody with some advce or experiences that would help me understand the grand scheme of this, please enlighten me..... I sure hope somebody else can learn from this! =========Shaun ==========

Sheesh, I made the decision that I was going to start posting and enjoying the Speakers corner, and the VERY FIRST thing I run into here makes me absolutly sick. Look, I'll Entertain this troll long enough to get my piece in. Why does government exist?! If you can answer that question honestly and with any degree of sincerity, you would see the folly of this article. =========Shaun ==========

I think somebody is in Denial..... =========Shaun ==========

] Ya got me there, Buddy. The Black licorice flavored syrup you but in the big brown bottles at the Hippie Natural food marts... It's just labled "Licorice root Syrup" on the front - It's REALLY good, I'll be you could find some flavoring at the supermarket, buy a little and give it a try!! =========Shaun ==========

Once you learn that you (and the rest of us dateless wonders on DZ.com on a fridaynight....) realize you have a problem, the faster the healing can start. Gawain, how do you feeeeeel right now... About yourself? Let's share........ =========Shaun ==========

A little Nutmeg and Licorice Syrup - Yum Yum. Forget the rum man, my egg nog is safe for the little 'un that people have running around when the family gathers for holiday festivities....

I can't offer you any advice from a TM standpoint, but since I pack tandems at Freaks, WFFC, and many other midwest boogies, I have an insight for you.. As a tandem packer, I honestly don't expect a whole heck of a lot. It's a long, tough, thankless job people. At Rantoul, the Equilibrium price rate is $10@, versus the $15@ at Freaks. i can pack all day, have my JM meet the plane each time, and I'm okay with that. I find it hard to EXPECT a tip, maybe that's just not my style. I am a very loyal Tandem Packer. "MY" tandem master must be taken care of, at all costs, before I can extend my servies to others. I have my main man. I offer this type of service, and 99% of the time, I recieve a tip. I would be much happier doing a good job, and having a job at the next boogie, rather than getting a few extra Dollars. If my tandem master is on a short call, I will gear up and brief the student, and we will meet the tandem master (with a packed rig) right where he touches down. Tips are not expected, I can't (nor do I dare) to speak for us (tandem packers), but the appreciation and respect of a job well done is all I need. =========Shaun ==========

"Fart" Gives me the Heebie Jeebies. Yes people, call it anything you want - toot, Break wind, pass gas, anything. Just not Fart. Sheesh... =========Shaun ==========

Ya know - When I got my Sabre2 brand new about a year or so ago, it always open softly, but it had the "characteristic" off-heading opening that many people claim a Sabre2 does... Funny thing, as I put more and more jumps on it, it happened less and less frequently. Now I most always have nice on-heading soft openings.. hmmmmm?!?! =========Shaun ==========

A Mr. Bill is something experienced & careless skydivers do to look cool - It entails one jumper exiting and hanging on to the harness of another jumper as they deploy - If all goes well, the "Bill" will be able to hold onto the other jumper as his or her canopy opens, and the two can ride around for a while until the other person lets go and falls off. A very dangerous maneuver I wouldn't recommend to anyone. I've done four of them successfully with a Static-Line, and the last one scared me enough to vow to never try it again - This post was edited because I can't spell or even write in complete sentencces.... =========Shaun ==========

I'm a Kansas Boy here - I'm soo close to Oklahoma thatI can smell it... (How's that for the pot calling the kettle black!) =========Shaun ==========

I love John Stewart's Comedy and his satires, but often times his hard liberal views overpower his sense of humor and he becomes just like many of his colleagues - He's a funny guy when he's not trying to get a point across.... =========Shaun ==========

Winsor, I can't thank you enough for letting me jump your ParaCommander rig three times at WFFC this year. It was a great experience, and I'm grateful you bring those every year for yuppies (like me) to really gain an appreciation for what we have today. I would very much recommend talking with Winsor or another person familiar with a PC before taking one up, and a much more intense practice session of PLF's... =========Shaun ==========

0:2:1 Interesting Week, I opened up the DZ bright and Early both today and Saturday, and I spent all day Saturday Trying to keep the dropzone running smoothly. I took three full loads of SL students up, and one poor girl on the first load decided she didn't want to jump today, so I rode the plane down with her, hence the only 2 jumps. That's okay, I did the right thing. Other than that, I spent most of this weekend on the paper-work side of keeping a DZ running, fun fun fun!!

I'm single and Not a-looking!!! No point in getting a honey when I'm moving overseas in just a month and a Half - I couldn't stand to break a girls heart..... =========Shaun ==========

0:0:1 Pretty Dull weekend here. I taught a First Jump Class with 12 students friday night and Saturday morning, but the weather kept us on the ground all day saturday and most of sunday. I hate the fall in Kansas.... =========Shaun ==========

Well, When I went to Rantoul and met all the DZ.comers, everybody just recognized me as an upside-down rat. Man, I just look like an Upside-down rat. That's me! =========Shaun ==========

AHHHHH!! You got me man!! I know, I know, I was thinking about skydivng this mornin when I SHOULD have been in Econ Class, but Instead I was sleeping in!!! An ya know what - NO REGRETS!!!! MUAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!! =========Shaun ==========

Hey, I got that same email too!!! That must mean you and I are somehow related!! =========Shaun ==========

That is a Really cool video - I love the angles of the rabbit..... I just wish I could understand what he was singing! =========Shaun ==========

Man, there is nothing to it! I'm a full-time student, and school ALWAYS comes first, no questions. I don't even let myself think about the dropzone or skydiving unless I am done with my studies.... =========Shaun ==========

My favorite sammich is a True Philly Steak. Not one of those pussy watered-down things you get at hardees or at Quiznos, I want a REAL philly. 1" thick slices of beef, big mushrooms, Real Swiss. Oh yeah! =========Shaun ==========

Is it just me - or does everything Apple make totally rock!?! I LOVE my iPod and iBook - Love love love love love!! =========Shaun ==========

Hola Sunny. Soy "calvo Culato". I still have no idea what that means, but Thanks Sunny! soy # 1160! =========Shaun ==========

I think that now Alice from "Dilbert" will punch through your torso for saying that.... =========Shaun ==========