RWS PSB

[Hooknswoop 19]

SKYHOOK PRODUCT SERVICE BULLETIN
3 DECEMBER 2003

Re: All Skyhook equipped rigs – General Caution

Although it is clearly noted in the Skyhook packing instructions, it would like to reiterate one special caution. Riggers (and owners) please be sure that the Skyhook hardware is sewn to the white freebag bridle correctly. There is a drawing of the correct installation and set-up sewn right next to the Skyhook on every rig, and the Skyhooks themselves are labeled. However, if the Skyhook hardware were sewn on the bridle backwards during manufacture or subsequent repair, (with the pointed end of the hook facing the pilot chute, instead of the bag) then you would tow your reserve pilot chute if deployed in response to a main total malfunction. As the instructions state, this pilot chute in tow can be fixed by pulling the yellow RSL tab. Remember, this situation can only be caused by an installation error at the factory, or during a rigger repair of a damaged bridle. It cannot be caused by a packing error.


Immediate Mandatory Inspection of Skyhook equipped rigs shipped between October 12 and December 1, 2003

Although a lot of care was taken to insure Skyhooks were properly sewn to the bridle at Relative Workshop, one improperly sewn Skyhook did get through, and was caught by a rigger at assembly. This manufacturing and inspection error seems to have happened in the confusion created after our primary inspector was injured in a motorcycle accident on October 12, 2003, co-incident with a new person putting the Skyhooks on bridles. So, any Skyhook assemblies shipped after October 12, and before December 1, 2003 are suspect. Your rig(s) falls into this category.

Skyhook inspections at Relative Workshop have now been revamped, and doubled, to make sure this never happens again, but if one bad one got out, there could be others. We feel confident that a rigger would (and indeed one did) catch this error during initial set-up and packing, because of the rig labeling, and the warning in the packing instructions. However, just to be absolutely sure, we feel that another inspection of each of these rigs is called for. Inspection criteria are attached to this document, are included in the Vector/Micron/Sigma packing instructions, and are available at WWW.Relativeworkshop.com. Relative Workshop will pay for a rigger to open and re-inspect your rig. A complete repack should not be necessary. Just have your rigger send us the bill. Please notify us as soon as the inspection is complete.


There is a picture attached, but it is too big to attach here. The picture shows the correct installation of the Skyhook, which can be seen here: Skyhook packing Instructions

Derek

[AggieDave 6]

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Relative Workshop will pay for a rigger to open and re-inspect your rig.

That is a class act, its refreshing after seeing a previous recal in the industry within the past 5 years in which the end user had to pay the inspection, pay for the repair and pay for the shipping.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[skydiverek 63]

The notice is now on RWS website:

http://www.relativeworkshop.com/pdf_files/09238.pdf

Bart

[Aviatrr 0]

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That is a class act, its refreshing after seeing a previous recal in the industry within the past 5 years in which the end user had to pay the inspection, pay for the repair and pay for the shipping.

Agreed.....but the question has to be asked...what does this say about their QC? Hopefully there is only one rig that made it through with the Skyhook attached improperly. Of course, now their QC in that area at least will be two or three times as rigorous. Hopefully everybody that has an affected rig will not jump it until it has been inspected, but I seriously doubt that will be the case - especially since it's the weekend. Anybody know how many rigs this SB affects?

Based on this....

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(with the pointed end of the hook facing the pilot chute, instead of the bag) then you would tow your reserve pilot chute if deployed in response to a main total malfunction.

...it appears that they mean there will be a reserve PC in tow if you go straight to your reserve(such as a low exit or no pull/cypres fire). Is that the way others read that?

This makes me wonder.....in a situation like this, can the FAA step in and ground all affected rigs until they are inspected since this is a TSO'd component?

Mike

[riggerrob 643]

The FAA can legally step in and ground all affected rigs, but the truth is they have far bigger fish to fry (aging airliners, Al Queda, etc.) and do not want to be bothered by skydivers.
A few years ago the FAA quit issuing Airworthiness Directives, preferring to rely on Service Bulletins issued by parachute manufacturers.
The fine print makes it a violation of Federal Air Regulations to ignore an SB.

[billbooth 10]

An e-mail or fax has been sent, or phone call been made, to each owner. Only 40 rigs are affected, and 15 of those were packed by experienced Relative Workshop riggers, and were OK, according to them. It is very difficult to pack a Skyhook that is sewn on backwards, especially with a color picture of a correct installation staring you in the face...So I doubt any rigger did it. I just have to be sure.

When Relative Workshop makes a manufacturing error, we will admit it immediately, notify every affected party, and then pay for the fix.

[ZigZag 0]

Another case in point were a mfg on the leading edge of innovation reacts correctly!
Every change or innovation has to account for human error, or in some cases unforeseen consequences that where not discovered during the testing phase. The industry rocks because of its ability to react to problems. It is also a testament to the built in accountability of TSO procedures when mfg's adhere to them!!!

[Hazarrd 1]

So what happens to a cutwaway on a rig with the skyhook sewn on backwards?

.-.

[Harksaw 0]

To my understanding, if the skyhook is sewn on backwards and you have a cutaway, the skyhook will be nonfunctional and your reserve should work as if there was no skyhook. But, if your main is still in the container, the hook will catch on the lanyard and give you a reserve PC in tow.

__________________________________________________
I started skydiving for the money and the chicks. Oh, wait.

[KellyF 16]

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To my understanding, if the skyhook is sewn on backwards and you have a cutaway, the skyhook will be nonfunctional and your reserve should work as if there was no skyhook. But, if your main is still in the container, the hook will catch on the lanyard and give you a reserve PC in tow.

Correct. Just release the RSL snap shackle if having the reserve PC in tow.

• Quote

[skydiverek 63]

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Correct. Just release the RSL snap shackle if having the reserve PC in tow.

Yeah, no biggie...

[scottjaco 0]

Correct. Just release the RSL snap shackle if having the reserve PC in tow.***

and how do you do this during a high speed malfunction?
it would be pretty hard to find that little yellow tab!

[DJL 235]

I don't know how the shackle is to deal with on a RSL but I've had to undo snatch-blocks while sailing in pretty nasty conditions and it's pretty hairy if the line is in tension and you're getting thrown all over the place. And these are nice big blocks where you can get a few fingers through the loop.

So, my question is: is this really a design intent of the shackle that you should be able to release it under extreme tension? I'll take from the sarcasm in the previous posts that this isn't the realistic case. And to get back to the point of this thread, since this recall, everything is set up correctly anyway, so one shouldn't have to worry about it.

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[Blahr 0]

Guys, they dont expect you to live with this situation.
They expect you will have it checked (at their expense) and to have it repaired if its found to be faulty.

They merely pointed out that the towed reserve PC (caused by the skyhook being assembled backwards) would clear if the RSL release tab were pulled. That doesnt mean they expect you to keep it that way :-)

I have a skyhook equipped rig that was assembled during the time period in question. It was assembled correctly.
If found to be backwards I would have had it corrected BEFORE jumping it again.

[diablopilot 2]

To answer your question about the RSL, the shackle is designed to release easily under load.

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