masterrigger1

Yep, I remember that day well....December 12,1992 The Pouch was mounted on a belly Band. Tommy did find the reserve handle before impact, He just ran out of altitude. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

The washers look to be "cold stamped" probably in a two stage die. My guess is stress fractures resulting from a dull die punch in the first stage. (which punches the holes). Cheers, MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

So, I am signed up and looks like MIKE G is also. Any others? PIA Rodeo Contenders: Mike G MEL BS, MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Paul, The 180 Day document was issued by PIA, but in reality, Cliff Schmucker of SSK for the Airtec Cypres. There was a double fatality apparently from someone installing a Cypres battery and reclosing the container improperly. It captured the double sided RSL as per Nancy's report. One could say that it was done using the document from PIA. There is some verbage in some of the eariler Regs (adopted from the Military) that state that ..."parachute packing should be a continous,uninterrupted operation. If you have a earlier PPM, you will find evidence of that in 9.3.1.1 in the last paragraph. This something the FAA is still working on resolving. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

There was never a Safety Bulletin issued for a Safire 1 AFAIK. There were only minor changes from the Safire 1 to the Safire 2. It is NOT made exclusively at Cimsa. It is also made at NZ Aerosports. Cheers, MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

The belt should be a 3L-XX (XX is the size in inches) 3L means a 3/8" inch wide belt. I am assuming that you have a stand clutch motor on it or does it have the small "bolt on the side" motor? If you have the clutch motor, loosen the two nuts on the threaded adjustment arm. Lower the bottom nut until the belt itself suspends the weight of the motor. Now, tighten the bottom nut back up until you have moved the motor bak up the threaded rod about 1/4 inchm for a little slack in the belt. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Absoluetly no differences in the above... Both actions are attempts to activate, deploy, initate,etc...the reserve. Machines have intended purposes given to them by humans. Therefore, they in fact do have intent. As far as anthropomorphizing, I never gave an AAD any human traits. I never said that an AAD carries out the full deployment, it merely starts the chain of events of deployment, just like pulling a ripcord does. That is if it is installed correctly,etc... MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Jerry, Until AirTec gets a TSO on their units, (this is an action item with the FAA BTW), all approvals of that nature will have to be approved by the H/C manufacturer as I hear it. The sceniro that you present has "probably" already played out in several different incidents. http://www.pia.com/piapubs/ServiceBulletins/SkydiverAdvisory3-31-2010.pdf The one that really stands out is this one- http://www.pia.com/piapubs/PIA-180FAQ.pdf This is with regards to the tandem double fatality in Garrettsville,OH. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=3678254;page=5;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;mh=25; Cheers, MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Which is exactly why skydivers install AAD's, for that simple mistake or failure! One could consider installing an AAD a positive action also..... I never rely on them, but do expect if installed, to be installed correctly. Cheers, MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Some cut the loop, others pull the pin.....FXC 1200 is a pin puller that is still used. Again, see above! So, how do you "deploy" a reserve? The answer is that you pull a handle, which pulls the pin, and etc..... The bottom line is that a deployment of a reserve parachute is a chain of events that either can be started by cutting the loop or pulling the pin. The intent of both methods are the same:... to start the deployment of the reserve. Period! MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Spectra is actually more expensive as a fiber/raw material than Technora. You are correct is saying that the smaller line material (comp Line) is more expensive to manufacture. This is due to the increased manhours involved in finger trapping, not sewing the 350lb and smaller lines. PD used Dynema (a cousin to Spectra) for awhile on the Katana before switching, not Spectra. Cheers, MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Andre, You have a few mistakes here. Actually, Microline is an house name (brand name) used only by PD.... Spectra is a Trade Name for this specfic fiber which is in the polyethelene family. Technora is the Trade name for the HMA type lines that we use. Also Vectran, is a Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP), not an HMA type. Cheers, MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

If you get really bored, I am in the shop until 7:30 tonight. I am half way to SDC from Greenville (40 minutes). Cheers, MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Naptha. Go to your local store and buy lighter fluid( Naptha), the replacement type for cigarette lighters. Apply and use a papertowel to remove both the adhesive and the excess Naptha. Cheers, MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Generally, I agree, But if the repair man stronger better materials than the TSO requires, he may use them provided that they are acceptable materials for the job. The TSO is a Standard to which you must at least use materials of set caliber and manufacture. This is why we have Technical Standard Order. It is totally acceptable to use materials that exceed the minimum type spelled out in the TSO. This rig had a longer Stitch Pattern; not more stitches per inch. The stitch pattern is key as I also agree. But here again If the pattern used has a higher number of total stitches ( at the same SPI) and of a stitch pattern that the manufacturer has used on the same TSO previously, in would be legal. I have a large number of FAA guys coming to Reno in Feburary. Talking to them would be a great way to gain some knowledge in this area. The format would be Exact Repair Standards vs Exceeding Repair Standard. BS, MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

You have to note which manufacturer the canopy came from before doing that. Para-Flite, Glide Path, and Flight Concepts canopies where/are delivered with the barrels installed outboard. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Negative. If a Master Rigger subsituted 6 cord thread (stonger)instead of using the factory standard 5 cord, do you still believe that he or she has to gain an FAA or manufacturer approval. Of course not.... From what I can see is that the lift web seems to be the only thing changed on this rig. ...minus the missing Chest Strap! As far as matching Data on file with the manufacturer; most harness resizes are never reported, but legal. If you look closely the Lateral is up against the turnback of the lift web, not allowing a confluence wrap to be used. It looks like the longer 4 point was being used in lieu of the confluence wrap. In fact, I wonder how the factory will do it any differently? If that are going to keep the same lateral offset, how is the confluence wrap to be used? It will have to be used above the lateral junction, which would be different that all of the standard rigs I have seen to date. BS, MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Minor changes are not required to be reported to the FAA. The manufacturers are no different than a Master rigger in this case. Case and point woyld be the Vector III changes(minor) from the Wonderhog. The stitch pattern was was on previous models as "approved" So it would be legal! But back to the OP ...terrible workmanship at it's best! MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

The only thing changed on this system appears to be the main lift web. I think everything else is factory. The change to Type VII is also OK as it is a stronger Type. But the absence of a confluence wrap and the poor workmanship is not! MEL MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

If the work was in fact done by a Master rigger. it would be an approved repair/ modification in the eyes of the FAA. Resizing a harness is considered a standard repair/modification. If the design was changed to something other than what was original. that would be a different story. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Remember, as the span increases, you are getting closer to a open canopy. There are other factors in the equation, but they are differ canopy to canopy. There were a couple of changes in years past, but most notable was the Precision built sliders. They used a different maufacturering metod and the sizes were not standard. The difference in the method was that they folded the slider fabric over to make the slider lock channels instead of using 2' Tape. This made a big difference in the dimensions. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

It is not subjective when the exact video that supposed to disprove a myth, shows exactly the opposite in the same video! If you have a bag lock simply by the casscades not passing through, it most likely be a weak P/C issue as a good P/C should break the rubber band. The issue of double stowing and bag locks is that the fact one holds greatly as the second one behind it breaks and yhe loose lines go around the bag.... The bottom line it is bad info on the video and should not be held as gospel. There is really good info on that site along with some really bad. That is the point I am making. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Domed is the better option by far. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

Paul, That's right. The earlier FX's had some rather quick penings most of the time, so I just try to slow them down a bit with this 4-5cm added. MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

They have SOME good info and some bad. Just because it comes from PD does not make it an absolute. Just look at this:http://www.thepdblog.com/pdblog/2010/09/video-line-stow-myth.html Terrible info! If you are going to refute a Myth, try not to show the myth in the video..... MEL Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com